Mavericks schedule release: Important dates, crucial contests, takeaways

Dallas Mavericks schedule release: Important dates, crucial contests, takeaways

The Dallas Mavericks are back in what has been the craziest calendar year in NBA history. The 2019-2020 season was suspended in March because of the pandemic before restarting in the bubble in July. After eight seeding games, the Mavs faced the LA Clippers in the playoffs. They lost in six games but had one of the best teams in the league on the ropes. Dallas played their last contest on Aug. 30 and began full team workouts again on Dec. 4.

It will be interesting to see what impact the short offseason has on the 2020-2021 season, but that is far from the only change. First, the regular season has been trimmed to 72 games. The travel has also been adjusted to make it easier on the players.

The NBA released the first half of the regular season schedule on Friday. Fans can get a look at the Mavs slate here. Here is everything fans need to know.

Dallas Mavericks schedule release: What fans need to know

The Mavs have 37 games on their schedule so far, but it is still 2020. Fans have seen games across sports be canceled or postponed because of COVID-19 issues. Basketball will be no different as the bubble is gone, and teams are playing in their arenas.

It is still exciting to look at what is ahead for the Mavericks. The NBA did them no favors with the early slate, especially considering Kristaps Porzingis is expected to be out until January. Here is a look at the important dates, crucial contests, and takeaways from the Dallas Mavericks schedule.

Next: Important dates

Dallas Mavericks schedule release: Important dates

Season opener- Dec. 23 at Phoenix Suns- 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN

The regular season is almost here. The Mavericks open in Phoenix in Chris Paul’s Suns debut. It will mark the second time in three years that the two teams squared off in the opener. The Mavs are hoping for a better result as the Suns won by 21 in Luka Doncic’s NBA debut back in 2018.

Christmas Day game- Dec. 25 at Los Angeles Lakers- 7:00 p.m. CT on ESPN

Fans knew about this game before the schedule was officially released. It was still awesome to see the Mavs getting the primetime showdown on arguably the NBA’s biggest day of the calendar year. Read more about the Christmas Day matchup here.

Home opener- Dec. 30 vs. Charlotte Hornets- 7:30 p.m. CT

The Mavs are on the road for three straight before facing the new-look Hornets in their home opener. It will be the only time Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball visit the American Airlines Center this season. The Mavericks should be favored in this one, but expect Charlotte to push for the playoffs in 2021.

New Year’s Day game- vs. Miami Heat- 6:00 p.m. CT

The Mavericks face the defending Eastern Conference champions on New Year’s Day. Dallas was swept by the Heat last season including the Dec. 14 game where Luka Doncic injured his ankle for the first time. The Mavs will be looking for a better result on the holiday.

MLK Day game- Jan. 18 at Toronto Raptors- 6:30 p.m. CT

The Mavericks will also play on Martin Luther King Jr. Day against the Raptors. No word yet if this game will take place in Canada or Tampa. Either way, Dallas should be favored, especially if Kristaps Porzingis has returned to the floor by this point.

Next: Crucial contests

Dallas Mavericks schedule release: Crucial contests

Playoff rematch- Dec. 27 at LA Clippers- 2:30 p.m. CT on NBA TV

The Mavs open in Phoenix before traveling to Los Angeles to face both the Lakers and Clippers to begin the season. If Dallas can manage one win from that slate, they are doing well. Expect Luka Doncic to have a little extra for the team that knocked him out of the playoffs.

Division opener- Jan. 4 at Houston Rockets- 7:00 p.m. CT

The Mavericks do not play a division game until Jan. 4. The deck is stacked against Dallas here because it is their first second night of a back-to-back this season. Assuming James Harden remains in Houston, the Rockets will be the Mavs toughest test in the division. It will crucial that the Mavericks win the series this season.

Jan. 7 at Denver Nuggets- 9:00 p.m. CT on TNT

This game is key because it is in Denver, which is historically one of the toughest places to play. The Mavericks also kick off the season with six of eight on the road. Dallas could be looking at just two wins after their brutal slate. They need to knock off the Nuggets, especially if they are already falling behind in the Western Conference.

Jan. 11 vs. New Orleans Pelicans- 7:30 p.m. CT on NBA TV

Many are anointing the Pelicans as the Mavs’ biggest threat in the division for years to come. It will be Luka vs. Zion for the first time in the 2020-2021 season. Expect both players to go off in the showdown.

Jan. 22 at San Antonio Spurs- 7:30 p.m. CT

The Mavericks do not face the rival Spurs until Jan. 22. Popovich’s team missed the playoffs for the first time since 1997 in 2020. It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back this season. This game also marks the 11th road game for Dallas in its first 16.

Next: Takeaways

Dallas Mavericks schedule release: Takeaways

The NBA did Dallas no favors in this year’s schedule. It is a difficult early slate for the Mavs that will be made tougher by the absence of Kristaps Porzingis. 11 of the first 16 on the road is brutal. They also face many of the top teams including all three title favorites in that stretch.

There were few back-to-backs on the schedule than expected given the NBA is trying to fit the games into a short window. The Mavericks have just four in the slate that was released. That is a plus because they are big on resting players.

The addition of the series is also a new twist. Teams are staying in the same city and playing multiple games this year, which creates longer home stands. The Mavericks play seven straight in Dallas from Feb. 4 to Feb. 17. It also could help teams acclimate a bit better to the elevation in Denver.

Overall, the Dallas Mavericks received a difficult schedule. They play 19 of 37 home games, though. It is a tough slate early on, but those contests shift to Dallas quickly. Fans can read the instant reaction to the schedule release here.

Stay tuned for what should be a fun and exciting season as the Mavs attempt to jump into title contention. Do not count out this talented squad.