Mavericks Face Wizards in Search of First Win of Season

Dallas, Texas – The Dallas Mavericks will host the Washington Wizards on Friday night at the American Airlines Center as both teams seek their first win of the 2025-26 NBA season. The Mavericks, 9.5-point favorites, are motivated to bounce back after a disappointing 33-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs in their season opener.

In that game, rookie forward Cooper Flagg struggled to make an impact, failing to record an assist despite grabbing 10 rebounds for a double-double. Coach Jason Kidd hopes Flagg will find his rhythm against the Wizards, who are looking to improve after a poor previous season.

The Wizards finished among the league’s bottom teams last year and are still adjusting to significant changes in their roster. They will be without key player Bilal Coulibaly for the second consecutive game, which poses challenges for their chances of staying competitive on the road.

Despite Dallas’ lackluster performance, they still possess a solid core that made the playoffs last season. The Mavericks will rely on their veterans to navigate this matchup effectively and potentially cover the spread against a rebuilding Wizards squad.

On the other hand, the Wizards showed some promise recently, keeping closer to the Milwaukee Bucks in their opener than expected. Standout performances from Khris Middleton and others gave them a fighting chance, but the absence of Coulibaly might make it hard to maintain that momentum against a stronger Mavericks lineup.

Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM CT, and the game will be broadcast locally on KFAA Channel 29 as well as streamed on Mavs TV. Betting odds indicate a wide gap between the teams, suggesting the Mavericks have a clear path toward their first victory of the season.