The Dallas Mavericks will reportedly open the 2025-26 season at home in an anticipated showdown against the San Antonio Spurs as the two top picks in the 2025 NBA Draft face off for the first time.
Dallas has already scheduled a notable preseason matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 6 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, marking the first time in history an NBA game has been played at the venue, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Now, the Mavericks are set to take on multiple high-level regular-season matchups following leaks about the upcoming NBA regular-season announcement.
Dallas will officially tip off the 2025-26 NBA campaign at home on October 22, setting the stage for an early showdown of top draft picks Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein.
This matchup marks the third straight year the Mavericks and Spurs open the season against each other, but this year’s meeting brings fresh storylines with a pair of rookies expected to headline the contest.
Dallas’ schedule will also include a high-profile Christmas Day matchup against the Golden State Warriors, with this scheduled to be one of five total NBA games played on the holiday, per NBA Insider Shams Charania.
Although many will be focused on the performance of Flagg during his first Christmas Day NBA game, there will also be a considerable amount of attention toward Mavericks guard Klay Thompson, who will be making another return to the Bay Area to face off against his former team.
Both games signal the Mavericks’ prominent place in the NBA’s national broadcast slate for 2025-26, with many expecting Dallas to compete for a championship next season once guard Kyrie Irving returns from injury.
The eventual addition of Irving into the lineup alongside Flagg and star forward Anthony Davis should help the Mavericks compete against the top teams in the 2026 NBA playoffs.
While full schedule details have yet to be released, many believe the Mavericks will sit just behind Houston, Denver, and Oklahoma City among the contenders in a deep Western Conference.
These three teams are widely expected to be the favorites to win the conference next season, but Dallas’s depth and veteran leadership could help propel this team into a deep playoff run.