The Dallas Mavericks are coming off their largest win in three weeks as they head out for a five-game road trip. The first opponent on the schedule is the Pelicans, who have been just as hurt, if not more hurt than Dallas this year. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, New Orleans will be relatively healthy for their matchup tonight. Still, the Pelicans have won just 12 games this season and the Mavericks have to win this one. The last time they were here they lost to a shorthanded Pelicans team and they simply cannot afford to let history repeat.

Game Details

Fixture: Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Pelicans | NBA 2024-2025

Date and Time: Wednesday, January 29th, 2025; 7:00 PM CST

Venue: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA.

Outcome Odds

• Spread: Dallas -1.5 (-108)
• O/U 233 (-112/-108)
• Mavs ML: -120

Odds up to date as of 11:30 CST from DraftKings

Dallas is coming off a huge win over the Wizards, which saw Klay Thompson regain some confidence. Kyrie Irving was able to rest most of the night Monday, so the Mavericks should be ready to go tonight. Take Dallas -1.5 and expect a win.

Player Props

• Kyrie Irving to get 30+ points (+190)
• Zion Williamson to get 25+ points (+105)

Both of these players have excellent matchups. Dallas has struggled with Williamson in the past and the Mavericks’ guards got a lot of good looks last time these two teams played. This should be a big night for both stars.

Play of the Day

• SGP – Over 233 + Mavericks -3.5 (+298)

The Mavericks are going to win by at least two possessions in a high-octane offensive game. There will be a lot of threes and layups and Dallas will take advantage of the Pelicans not having Herb Jones.

Trail may bring respect

Re: “Dallas Cultural Trail Gets Welcome Boost — Federal grant is first step toward celebration of what defines us,” Saturday editorial.

Finally, Fair Park and Deep Ellum are reaping deserved attention. The Arts District is of interest but rather nouveau, its antecedents being in Fair Park. Hopefully architectural jewels in Fair Park will merit more respect than has the Kalita Humphreys Theater — the only theater in the world designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and sentenced to persistent neglect.

Its carefully chosen park setting is threatened by that bane of Dallas — parking lots. Tourism could have been stimulated had its condition been improved and its existence promoted.

And, by the way, I wish someone would tell its history while some of the “originals” are still here to be interviewed.

Alison Wright, North Dallas

Writers also create beauty

Re: “To all the makers in our lives, thank you — Every object we touch was designed by someone with a sense of purpose,” by Christopher de Vinck, Saturday Opinion.

Again Mr. de Vinck reminds us of the beauty in our world. He didn’t mention one very important group — all the writers like himself who create beautiful books and stories.

Mary Spickler, Allen

Disappointed in Cornyn vote

Sen. John Cornyn, I watched Friday night with disappointment and dismay, but not surprise, as your vote advanced Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified candidate in history, to the post of secretary of defense. Your single vote represented your country’s and your constituents’ chance to support a different meritorious leader, a leader such as yourself, to this hugely consequential post. But you let this singular opportunity escape you. And you let us and yourself down.

Hegseth is a documented failed manager, having run one small organization into financial ruin through his mismanagement and having been removed by his own board for similar failures with a second. He’s an admitted philanderer and embarrassing public drunk. He suggests that he will restore “merit” to the armed services. Merit indeed! Can you put forth one, single meritorious action or recognition that qualifies Hegseth for this position? One?

When will you overcome your terror of the vindictive actions of the president and begin to listen to the wise counsel of your own good judgment and better angels? Your single vote could have shown courage and protected your legacy and reputation.

Ted M. Ingersoll, Dallas/Turtle Creek

U.S. looks cruel

Re: “GOP limits global abortion access — Rule forbids countries relying on U.S. funds from performing the procedure,” Sunday news story.

I guess I don’t understand the GOP’s obsession in making sure that women do not have any say on their health care. And after reading this story, the health of women not just in the U.S., but worldwide?

President Donald Trump just reinstated a policy that is known as the Global Gag Rule. The U.S., no matter who is the president, cannot fund abortions in another country. But the last time Trump decided to reinstate this, he took it a step further, so it didn’t just apply to family planning, but also agencies that were providing assistance to programs working on nutrition, malaria and HIV/AIDS. This caused many of the programs to close which impacted the poorest and hardest to reach populations in the world.

So, I guess, here are my questions: Do Trump and the GOP not want anyone in the world to have access to a safe abortion? Do they also not want them to have access to family planning (contraceptives, etc.) to eliminate the need for an abortion? And, to top it off, does it matter that they are cutting off funding to those in dire need of help to combat other health emergencies that affect mainly those who are poor, minorities and children?

The world is watching. The U.S. looks weak and cruel.

Nora Bollhagen, McKinney

About McKinley Tariff

Being a man of high curiosity but low creativity, I checked the Wikipedia page for “McKinley Tariff,” which was enacted when William McKinley was chair of the House Ways and Means Committee and Benjamin Harrison, not McKinley, was president.

I found the following, which brightened my mood: ”The tariff was not well received by Americans who suffered a steep increase in prices. In the 1890 election, Republicans lost their majority in the House with the number of seats they won reduced by nearly half, from 171 to 88. In the 1892 presidential election, Harrison was soundly defeated by Grover Cleveland, and the Senate, House, and presidency were all under Democratic control.”

William Carroll, Far North Dallas

Who’s watching lottery?

Re: “Report details Texas Lottery failures,” by Dave Lieber, Sunday Metro column.

Eleven million lottery tickets sold in three days from one store? Twenty-six million tickets purchased by a single syndicate? Our governor should be tweeting, “Aw, hell no!” Our attorney general, champion of the people, should be filing a lawsuit against the Texas Lottery. And our lieutenant governor should be proposing legislation to eliminate gray areas in lottery operations. Instead, crickets.

Steven Monserrate, Far North Dallas

Get this on record

I don’t know how sincere congressional Republicans were in taking exception to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons, but I know how to find out: Introduce a motion of censure and let them go on record.

Ken Duble, Dallas/The Cedars

Welcome, coach

Re: “Coordinator is new head coach — Schottenheimer signs 4-year deal to become franchise’s 10th leader,” Saturday news story.

I spent my junior year at Stanford University studying abroad in Germany, so I’m always interested in German names like Schottenheimer. It amused me to translate the Cowboy’s new Coach Brian Schottenheimer’s German name: it means a “person whose home is Scotland.” Welcome, coach!

Sharon Hockensmith, McKinney

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Major League Soccer today announced MLS club qualification criteria for official North American cup competitions during the 2025 and 2026 seasons, and the 2025 participants. The four tournaments — the Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and Canadian Championship – provide important opportunities for clubs to compete for championships outside of MLS play.

FC Dallas will compete in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. FC Dallas is one of 16 MLS clubs that will enter the competition in the Round of 32, scheduled for Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7.

The 16 participating MLS teams were determined as follows: 

• Only U.S.-based clubs are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup.
• MLS teams not competing in either Leagues Cup or Concacaf Champions Cup automatically qualify for the Open Cup. For the 2025 edition, this accounts for nine of the 16 MLS teams.
• The remaining teams are determined by Supporters’ Shield standings, excluding teams competing in the Concacaf Champions Cup. For the 2025 edition of the Open Cup, this accounts for seven of the 16 MLS teams.

“FC Dallas is proud to compete in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament that embodies the legacy and passion our father had for soccer in the United States,” FC Dallas President Dan Hunt said. “This competition is a celebration of the sport’s incredible history in our country, and we are looking forward to competing for another Lamar Hunt U. S. Open Cup trophy.”

The 2025 edition of the U.S. Open Cup will feature 15 other Major League Soccer clubs in addition to Dallas: Atlanta United FC, Charlotte FC, D.C. United, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Austin FC, Houston Dynamo FC, Minnesota United FC, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, and St. Louis CITY SC, along with 10 MLS NEXT Pro sides.

The Open Cup, which begins first-round play on Tuesday, March 18, will be the 110th edition of the competition, making it the longest-running soccer tournament in the United States. The knockout-style competition crowns U.S. soccer’s national champion from a field featuring professional clubs and affiliated amateur teams that meet eligibility requirements.