The New Orleans Pelicans have the privilege of playing their first two games of 2016 against a division rival, the Dallas Mavericks. In Dallas on Saturday, the Pelicans dominated the glass to the tune of 20 more rebounds than their opponent en route to a 105-98 win. Despite being the dominant conference for years, the West looks uncharacteristically pedestrian this season, and even though the Pelicans have only tallied 11 wins, they find themselves only four games out of the eighth seed right now. Another win against a divisional opponent that currently resides in the fifth slot would be huge.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Dallas Mavericks: What to watch for
