The Brooklyn Nets will continue their three-game road trip in the south with a visit to the Lone Star State to face the Dallas Mavericks at 8:30 p.m. EST. While these teams were initially expected to head in opposite directions this season, a massively disappointing showing from the Mavericks has both squads sitting outside of their conference’s play-in picture. Both might end up being big sellers at the trade deadline, setting the stage for a contest between two teams that might own very high picks in next year’s draft.
This season was never about winning for the Nets, but the development of the team’s young players has not looked particularly promising, either. Of the four first-round picks from the 2025 draft, only two, guard Egor Demin and forward Danny Wolf, have managed to crack the rotation in meaningful ways. The highlight of the lineup has been forward Michael Porter Jr., who is averaging 25.9 points per game, far and away the most on the team. He will almost certainly be moved at the deadline, but for now, he remains the best and really only threat on Brooklyn’s team.
Injury luck plays a huge part in every team’s season, and the Mavericks are no exception. Forward Anthony Davis has once again suffered a long-term injury, this time in the form of damage to ligaments in his hand. Guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL last season and is yet to return, but Dallas’s record brings up the question of whether Irving should play at all this season. What was supposed to be a year spent in the playoffs looks like a lost season, one that is unlikely to turn around thanks to a seemingly unshakable injury bug.
Nets +3.5 (+100)Mavericks -3.5 (-108)Over 221.5 (+100)Under 221.5 (-108)
Note: The above data was collected on Jan. 12, 2026, and may have changed since writing.
Nets vs Mavericks Betting TrendsThe Nets, despite their overall record, are 18-17-1 ATS this season.The Nets are 9-6-1 ATS when they enter a game as road underdogs.The under is 9-7 when Brooklyn plays on the road.The Mavs are one of the worst teams in the NBA ATS, going 16-23 this year.The Mavericks are 11-9 ATS when they play at home.The under is 23-16 in Dallas’s games.Nets vs Mavericks Injury ReportsMichael Porter Jr., F – Probable.Drake Powell, F – Questionable.Ziaire Williams, F – Questionable.PJ Washington, F – Out.Anthony Davis, F – Out.Kyrie Irving, G – Out.Brandon Williams, G – Questionable.Moussa Cisse, C – Questionable.Nets vs Mavericks Prediction and Pick
The Mavericks have been shockingly good against the spread in games like this one, but even this spread seems like a questionable one. The Nets played Dallas extremely closely the last time these teams faced off, and the mile-long injury report virtually assures that this game will be another close one. Take the Nets to cover on the road.