The Dallas Mavericks open their season on October 22, hosting the San Antonio Spurs and will wrap up the year on April 12 at home against the Chicago Bulls. With 80 regular-season games in between, Dallas will be aiming to reestablish itself as a Western Conference contender.
Here are the top 10 marquee games to watch this season:
– October 22, vs. Spurs
The opener doubles as a glimpse at Dallas’s new pieces alongside familiar stars. Newcomers Cooper Flagg and D’Angelo Russell will join forces with Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. Dallas’s opponent, a Spurs squad rebuilding around Victor Wembanyama, Stephone Castle, and Dylan Harper, will offer early answers on rotations and roles.
– November 1, vs. Pistons (Mexico City)
Dallas begins a stretch of five straight at the American Airlines Center, then heads to Mexico City for a road game against Detroit, in what fans hope becomes another memorable chapter of the Mavericks’ international games. The game counts as a home contest for Detroit, meaning Dallas won’t visit Detroit this season. This marks Dallas’s eighth game played in Mexico.
– November 3, at Rockets
Dallas will meet Houston as a division foe in a season where the Rockets are retooling their roster. The matchup provides an early read on how Dallas matches up with a bolstered Houston team intent on climbing the Western ladder.
– November 28, at Lakers
Luka Dončić’s return to Los Angeles to face his former team remains a storyline, with the game offering a chance to see how Dallas handles a prime rival on the road. It’s also poised to carry additional weight as a high-profile crossover between two teams with recent, intertwined histories.
– December 25, at Warriors
Christmas Day basketball at its best, as Dallas travels to San Francisco for a high-profile national telecast. When healthy, Dallas has been one of the league’s most watchable teams, and this game is a centerpiece of the holiday slate.
– January 19, at Knicks
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Dallas visits Madison Square Garden for a nationally watched test against the New York Knicks, a staple matchup for fans and a potential midseason gauge of the Mavericks’ progress.
– January 24, vs. Lakers
Dončić’s first return to the Mavericks’ home floor since a high-profile trade event will be a charged atmosphere, with the game broadcast on national television. Expect heightened emotions as Dallas hosts his former team.
– February 20, at Timberwolves
A marquee late-winter contest as Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards meets Dallas in a game that often proves pivotal in the playoff race. With the All-Star break in the rearview, it’s a good barometer for Dallas’s playoff push.
– December 5, vs. Thunder
Dallas faces a defending champion in Oklahoma City early in the season, with a nationally televised prime-time game. It’s a chance for Dallas to measure itself against a young, ascendant squad that topped them multiple times last season.
– March 6, at Boston
A late-season test against the Celtics in TD Garden. The matchup takes on extra intrigue with Cooper Flagg’s ties to the area and the historical pull of the 2024 NBA Finals rematch storyline. The health and depth of both teams will shape this interconference showdown.
Summary and outlook
The Mavericks’ schedule features a blend of national TV games, marquee cross-conference clashes, and opportunities to establish momentum against Western Conference rivals. Early-season matchups against the Spurs and the overhauled Rockets will set the tone, while high-profile Christmas and MLK Day games provide prime stages to showcase the team’s evolving identity. If Dallas can translate the pieces of their potentially dynamic lineup into consistent performance, they’ll be positioned to re-enter the West’s upper tier and pursue a return to playoff contention.
Optional notes for editors
– Consider adding a sidebar with key player-by-player expectations for the season, highlighting how Cooper Flagg and D’Angelo Russell are expected to contribute alongside established stars.
– Add a short glossary for readers unfamiliar with the international Mexico City game’s status within the schedule.
– Include a brief section on anticipated storylines, such as rotation competition, injury risk management, and the impact of the All-Star break on momentum.
Overall tone: hopeful and forward-looking, with emphasis on potential growth and the significance of marquee matchups for the Mavericks’ year.