What happened: Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse will not return to Wednesday's preseason contest against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a left ankle sprain. The team ruled him out during the active matchup while New Orleans held a 67-56 advantage.

Why it matters: Dallas matched a two-year offer sheet from the New York Knicks in July to retain Cisse as frontcourt depth for the 2026-27 campaign. Exiting an exhibition limits his remaining preseason floor time ahead of the Oct. 19 roster deadline.

What to watch: Dallas will evaluate Cisse's left ankle following the conclusion of the preseason matchup against New Orleans.