The Dallas Mavericks aren't exactly the same team you remember from that 2024 Finals run. Honestly, if you haven't been keeping tabs on the roster moves since the 2025 offseason, looking at the dallas mavs schedule 2025 and the current January 2026 slate might give you some serious whiplash.
Luka Dončić is gone. Yeah, you read that right. In one of the most polarizing trades in NBA history, the Mavs sent Luka to the Lakers. In return? They got Anthony Davis.
✨ Don't miss: What Helmet Does Saquon Barkley Wear? Why the Eagles Superstar Switched
Then the draft happened. Dallas hit the jackpot, landed the number one pick, and brought in Cooper Flagg. So, when you’re scanning the schedule for the rest of this 2025-26 season, you aren't looking for Step-back 3s from #77. You’re looking at a defensive juggernaut anchored by AD and a teenage phenom who basically plays like a point-forward from the future.
The Remaining January 2026 Grind
We are officially in the thick of it. January is always a "gut check" month in the NBA, and the Mavs are currently dealing with a massive hole in the lineup. Kyrie Irving is still sidelined with that torn ACL, and Anthony Davis has been dealing with a nagging leg injury that’s kept him out for an extended stretch.
If you’re planning to catch a game at the American Airlines Center or just trying to figure out when to tune in on Peacock or NBC, here is the immediate look ahead for January 2026:
👉 See also: Map of Barclays Center: What Most People Get Wrong
- Jan 14 vs. Denver Nuggets: This is a big one. 8:30 PM CT. Nikola Jokic is coming to town, and without AD at 100%, the Mavs are going to have to get creative to stop the Joker.
- Jan 15 & 17 vs. Utah Jazz: A weird little home "series" against Keyonte George and the Jazz. These are the games Dallas has to win if they want to stay in the playoff hunt.
- Jan 19 @ New York Knicks: Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is a massive national TV spot (5:00 PM ET on NBC). It’s Cooper Flagg’s first-ever game at Madison Square Garden.
- Jan 22 vs. Golden State Warriors: Steph Curry vs. the "New Look" Mavs.
- Jan 24 vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Mark your calendars. This is the big emotional homecoming (sorta). Luka Dončić returns to Dallas, but this time he’s wearing purple and gold. Expect the atmosphere to be... complicated.
- Jan 28 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: A rematch of the 2024 Western Conference Finals, though both rosters look wildly different now.
Why the Schedule is Harder Than It Looks
Most fans just look at the opponent and the date. But you've gotta look at the travel.
The Mavericks have a brutal stretch coming up in February where they play 13 of 17 games away from home. That includes a six-game road trip from February 7th to February 24th that spans the entire All-Star break. If the team hasn't found their rhythm by then, that road trip could basically end their season.
Also, can we talk about the back-to-backs? Dallas has 14 of them this season. In a league where "load management" is a dirty word but a literal reality, having AD on the roster makes those back-to-backs even more stressful for fans.
The Cooper Flagg Factor
Honestly, the only reason the AAC is still selling out every night despite the 15-25 start (as of early January) is Cooper Flagg. He's been living up to the hype. He even dropped 42 points in an overtime loss to Utah back in December.
When you look at the dallas mavs schedule 2025 and into 2026, you’re basically watching the growing pains of a new era. The team is thin on the glass. Anthony Davis is incredible when he’s healthy, but P.J. Washington has actually had to step up and out-rebound the big man lately.
Key Matchups to Watch Before the Season Ends
If you're cherry-picking games to watch, focus on these:
💡 You might also like: nfl schedule first week: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Opener
- February 3rd vs. Boston Celtics: The defending champs (well, 2024 champs) come to Dallas. It’s a measuring stick game.
- March 1st vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are the class of the West right now.
- April 5th vs. Los Angeles Lakers: The second meeting with Luka. By this point, we’ll know if the Mavs are in the Play-In tournament or looking at another lottery pick.
What You Should Actually Do
If you're a betting person or just a die-hard MFFL, stop looking at the 2024 stats. This team plays a much slower, more defensive-oriented game under Jason Kidd and lead assistant Frank Vogel.
- Check the injury reports 30 minutes before tip-off. With AD and Kyrie’s health being what it is, the line moves fast.
- Watch the "Home-to-Home" back-to-backs. Dallas has five of these this year. They are rare and usually result in much better performances than the "Road-to-Road" versions.
- Keep an eye on the trade deadline. Rumors are already swirling that the Atlanta Hawks are "circling the wagons" for a potential Anthony Davis trade if Dallas decides to lean even harder into the Cooper Flagg youth movement.
Basically, the rest of the 2025-26 schedule is a rollercoaster. One night you’re beating the Nuggets by one point (like they did on Dec 23rd thanks to 33 from Flagg), and the next you’re losing to the Pistons in Mexico City.
Grab your tickets for those late-January home games now while prices are still relatively low for the non-Laker matchups. Seeing Flagg in person before he becomes a perennial All-Star is probably the best investment a Mavs fan can make right now.