The Dallas Mavericks (8-16, 5-9 Home) return home after a 132-111 road loss to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder. The Mavs will square off against the division-leading Houston Rockets (15-5, 8-3 Away) tonight at 7:30pm.
The Mavericks were facing the real possibility that their 5-16 start would translate to 5-(imagine a much bigger number here) as they stared down a very rough schedule on paper. Gutsy wins versus the Clippers, Nuggets, and Heat have Dallas sitting 8-16 entering tonight’s tussle with Houston. While still miles away from the .500 mark, finding a way to protect their home floor against a Rockets squad that will likely be without Alperen Şengün (23 points | 9 rebounds | 7 assists | 50.5% FG) would certainly keep the glimmer of hope alive for those wishing the Mavericks keep their pieces and press on towards a potential postseason appearance. Houston leads the division for good reason and has formidable lineups even without its elite big man. With no players exceeding thirty minutes of playing time against the mighty Thunder, Dallas should have enough in the tank to make this one interesting into the fourth quarter.
Starting the season buried on the bench, it felt like a matter of time before Ryan Nembhard got his shot at the starting lineup. Jason Kidd began the year forcing Cooper Flagg to begin his NBA career out of position, then pivoting to stretches of starting both D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Williams (now both playing with the second unit) before handing a shot at the job to Nembhard.
Before the season, the MavsMoneyBall player preview for Nembhard, I predicted the best case: “In the best case, he defines his lane so clearly that the front office never even considers cycling his two-way spot and near season’s end he finds his way onto a permanent roster spot much the way Brandon Williams did last season.”
Marc Stein reports that Nembhard has convinced the Mavericks to secure that permanent roster spot as soon as possible. Over his five games since joining the starting lineup, Nembhard is averaging 15.6 points. 6.8 assists, and most importantly – exactly one lonely turnover per game. The Mavericks have risen to 23rd in the league with 15.7 turnovers per game on the strength of 11.7 in the last three games. Nembhard is keeping the Mavs organized, shooting when open without hesitation, and making the right reads to his teammates.
Whether you believe the Mavericks’ season still has a pulse or if you are already looking forward to the 2026 NBA Draft, there is something we can all agree on—the next three games are crucial. Even though the NBA trade deadline is on February 6th 2026, it is December 15th that marks the de facto start of the trade season. Ideas chambered in the proverbial holster often must rely on including players that signed in the offseason and thus cannot be traded until the December 15th 2025 line is crossed.
It is unclear how the Dallas Mavericks view their season and their future, yet they are about to answer those questions loudly with how they approach the trade market. Staying healthy tonight against Houston, Friday’s game against Brooklyn, and the matchup with Utah on the 15th will mean—at the very least—no additional injuries to the roster. While there is no guarantee that any trades will pop off immediately, keeping players healthy is paramount for the Mavs’ brain trust as they explore options.
KFAA-TV, Mavs.com, League Pass. Tipoff is set for 7:30pm CST.