If you walked into the American Airlines Center right now and expected to see Luka Dončić in a Mavericks jersey, you’d be met with a very quiet, very awkward reality check. The world of the NBA changed fast. It's January 2026, and the Dallas Mavericks basketball score is no longer dictated by the step-back threes of a Slovenian superstar. Instead, it’s being written by a rookie phenom named Cooper Flagg and a veteran anchor in Anthony Davis.
Honestly, the scoreboard hasn't been as kind to Dallas as fans hoped. The Mavs currently sit at 15-25, 12th in the Western Conference. They just pulled off a gutsy 113-105 win against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, January 12. It was a game they desperately needed to stop a two-game skid. If you missed it, Cooper Flagg basically put the team on his back, dropping 27 points and snagging three steals. He even gave everyone a heart attack when he tweaked his ankle in the third quarter, but he came back in to finish the job.
Why the Dallas Mavericks basketball score looks so different now
Most people are still caught up in the "Luka era" nostalgia. But let's be real: this is a transition year. The team's offensive rating is hovering around 28th in the league. That’s rough. They’re averaging about 113 points per game, which sounds okay until you realize they’re giving up nearly 117 on the other end.
The dynamic has shifted entirely to the youth movement. Cooper Flagg is the undisputed story here. He’s averaging 19.1 points per game as a rookie. He’s not just a scorer either; he leads the team in assists (4.3) and steals. People thought it would take him a year or two to adjust to the NBA pace, but he’s already their most consistent presence on the floor.
Then you have Anthony Davis. He’s the veteran presence now, putting up 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds a night. When AD and Flagg are clicking, the Dallas Mavericks basketball score stays competitive. When one of them is off—or out with an injury—things get ugly fast, like that 125-107 blowout loss to the Chicago Bulls on January 10.
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Breaking down the January schedule and results
The Mavericks are in the middle of a massive home stand that could define whether they even sniff the play-in tournament. Here’s how the last few games have shaken out:
On January 3, they beat the Rockets 110-104. Anthony Davis was a monster in that one with 26 points and 12 boards.
Then they headed to Sacramento on January 6 and eked out a 100-98 win. Flagg led with 20.
Things took a turn on January 8 in Utah. A 116-114 heartbreaker. Flagg had 26, but the defense just couldn't get the stop when it mattered.
The Chicago game on the 10th was a disaster. 125-107. Nobody played well.
Finally, they got back on track against Brooklyn on the 12th with that 113-105 victory.
Looking ahead, tonight (January 14) is a huge test against the Denver Nuggets at 8:30 PM. Denver is 27-13. They are efficient, they are mean, and they are probably going to exploit the Mavs' 19th-ranked defense. After that, they’ve got a double-header against Utah on the 15th and 17th. If they want to climb out of the basement, they basically have to sweep these home games.
The Cooper Flagg factor
It’s hard to overstate how much the Dallas fans have embraced Flagg. In the Nets game, he was 10-of-17 from the field. He’s 19 years old. Most kids that age are worried about midterms, and he’s out here guarding the opposing team's best wing while carrying a massive offensive load.
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Naji Marshall has been a surprising bright spot too. He’s shooting 54% from the field this season. In the win over Brooklyn, he chipped in 22 points and had 9 assists. With Kyrie Irving and others dealing with the "shorthanded" reality of this roster, guys like Marshall and Max Christie (averaging 12.3 points) are being asked to do way more than they probably should.
Klay Thompson is still here, too. He’s playing about 22 minutes a night and giving them 11.4 points. He isn't the "Game 6 Klay" of old, but he's still shooting 36.7% from three. His role is more about spacing and leadership now, helping the younger guys understand the defensive rotations that Coach Jason Kidd is trying to implement.
What to watch for in tonight’s score
When you're checking the Dallas Mavericks basketball score against the Nuggets tonight, keep an eye on the turnover battle. Dallas has been sloppy. They struggle when the pace gets too high, which is ironic because they actually rank 5th in the league in pace. They want to run, but they don't always have the ball security to back it up.
Denver is likely to be favored by about 8 or 9 points. To win, Dallas needs Anthony Davis to stay out of foul trouble and Cooper Flagg to keep that aggressive "No. 1 pick" energy. If P.J. Washington is cleared to play, that helps the defense significantly. He’s their best interior defender not named AD, averaging 1.4 blocks a game.
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The Western Conference is a meat grinder this year. Oklahoma City is sitting at 33-7, looking like a juggernaut. For Dallas, the goal isn't a championship right now; it's identity. They are 15-25. They are 12th. It’s a climb.
Actionable steps for Mavericks fans
If you are tracking this team through the winter, there are a few things you should do to stay ahead of the curve.
First, stop looking at the 2024 or 2025 stats. This is a completely different roster construction. Focus on the "Net Rating." Currently, it's -3.7. For Dallas to be a winning team, they need to get that closer to zero.
Second, watch the injury reports for Anthony Davis specifically. Because the Mavs are so thin at center—with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford sharing minutes but lacking AD’s scoring punch—the Dallas Mavericks basketball score usually drops by 10-15 points whenever Davis sits.
Third, keep an eye on the February trade deadline. With a record like 15-25, the front office (led by interim GM Michael Finley) has some tough choices to make. Do they sell off veterans like Klay Thompson to get more assets around Flagg, or do they try to buy a piece to make a late-season run?
Stay tuned to the local broadcasts on TEGNA or listen in on KEGL. Tonight’s game against Denver starts at 8:30 PM local time. Whether they win or lose, you can bet Cooper Flagg will do something that makes the highlight reel.