Dallas gets dropped straight into the deep end after the weather-forced pause, hosting Charlotte on a night where both teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Hornets arrive with a lot of January buzz and a shiny offensive profile, while the Mavericks quietly sit in a familiar role: short home dog, still not fully trusted by the market.
Let’s scan the lines in search of value.
🏀 Fixture:
Charlotte Hornets (20–28, 11–15 Away)
@ Dallas Mavericks (19–28, 14–13 Home)
📍 American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX
🕢 7:30 PM CST, January 29, 2026
📺 KFAA-TV / NBA App
💰 DraftKings Odds (as of 2:30 AM CST):
Spread: Hornets -4.5 (-102) | Mavericks +4.5 (-118)
Total: 227.5 (O -115 / U -105)
Moneyline: Hornets -166 | Mavericks +140
🎲 Game Side Pick: Mavericks +4.5
Charlotte’s been the league’s January darling — hot from deep, elite in net rating, and finally playing with the kind of rhythm that moves markets. On paper, they’ve earned their favorite tag.
📊 Player Props:
Max Christie Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-129)
Charlotte’s defensive attention is likely to tilt toward the primary creators, which keeps Christie in the flow as a release valve on the perimeter. In a matchup that projects toward pace and scoring, this number feels a touch light for a shooter who sports a green light along with Klay Thompson. Coming off a down game, we get a bit of value here.
Moussa Diabate Over 9.5 Points (-108)
Front-court players usually have nice nights facing a decimated Mavs front court. That should hold true here.