Mavericks Open Season With Russell, Flagg Debut

The Dallas Mavericks open the 2025–26 season Wednesday at home against the San Antonio Spurs, with BetMGM listing Dallas as a 3-point favorite and a 225.5 over/under. Rookie Cooper Flagg is expected to make his NBA debut and could be pressed into ball‑handling duties in a bigger starting five; Anthony Davis has praised Flagg’s readiness. With Kyrie Irving sidelined much of the year rehabbing a torn ACL, Dallas added D’Angelo Russell and is experimenting with lineups that emphasize size, switching and more off‑ball movement, with P.J. Washington likely to come off the bench. Dallas finished the preseason with a 97.1 defensive rating, though analysts caution those numbers were inflated by light competition and may not hold up in regular-season play. Commentators including Stephen A. Smith say the roster could be a title contender if key players, particularly Irving and Davis, return healthy in the post‑Luka era.