1. Game Overview
The Brooklyn Nets will travel to face the Dallas Mavericks on January 12, 2026. This contest features two teams aiming to improve their standing after difficult starts to the season. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:40 PM EST from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
2. Team Form and Analysis
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets enter this game with an overall record of 11-24. According to recent data, the team has gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, averaging 106.8 points per contest during that span. The Nets have struggled to find consistency, reflected in their position in the Eastern Conference standings and a negative average margin of victory of -5.0 points per game for the season. Despite their losing record, they have shown resilience, particularly from a competitive standpoint, often playing closer games than their record would suggest. Their offensive and defensive efficiency will need to improve if they hope to turn their season around.
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks currently hold a 14-24 record and have posted a 2-3 record in their last five outings, averaging 107.8 points per game over that stretch. The team has faced significant adversity, and a recent search result noted that the “season may be lost for the Mavericks.” Their struggles are compounded by the absence of key offensive leaders, which has put more pressure on younger players and role players to perform. Dallas has a home record of 10-10, indicating they have been a .500 team in their own arena. Their path forward depends heavily on how the supporting cast performs and whether they can establish a defensive identity without their primary stars.
3. Injury Report
The Dallas Mavericks are dealing with significant absences. Center Anthony Davis is expected to be out until at least February 5 with a finger issue, and guard Kyrie Irving is not expected to return until at least February 12 due to a knee ailment. Forward PJ Washington (ankle), center Moussa Cisse (shoulder), and guard Brandon Williams (illness) are all listed as game-time decisions.
For the Brooklyn Nets, a number of players are listed as game-time decisions, including M. Porter Jr. (rest), Haywood Highsmith (knee), Ziaire Williams (illness), Drake Powell (knee), and E.J. Liddell (knee). Their availability will be determined closer to tip-off.
4. ATS Trends
The two teams present a stark contrast in their performance against the spread (ATS).
- Brooklyn Nets: The Nets have an ATS record of 18-17-1, covering the spread in 51.4% of their games. More notably, they have a positive ATS margin of +3.1, meaning they are outperforming betting expectations by an average of over three points per game.
- Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks have struggled to cover spreads this season, posting an ATS record of 16-23-0 for a cover percentage of just 41.0%. Their ATS margin is -1.2, indicating they have underperformed the betting line by more than a point on average.
5. Betting Odds Breakdown
- Spread: The Dallas Mavericks are listed as 3.5-point favorites (-3.5). This means for a bet on Dallas to be successful, they must win the game by 4 or more points. A bet on the Nets (+3.5) wins if they win the game outright or lose by 3 points or fewer.
- Total (Over/Under): The game total is set at 221.5 points. Bettors can wager on whether the combined final score of both teams will be over or under this number.
6. Prediction
The Dallas Mavericks are favored at home, but their lineup is severely depleted by the absence of their two primary stars, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. Their path to victory relies on their role players stepping up at home and outperforming a Nets team that has also struggled to win games.
However, the Brooklyn Nets have been a surprisingly strong team against the spread. Their 51.4% cover rate and +3.1 ATS margin show a consistent ability to keep games closer than expected or pull off upsets as an underdog. In contrast, Dallas has one of the league’s worst ATS records (41.0%) and is coming into this game without its most impactful players.
Given the significant personnel losses for Dallas and Brooklyn’s proven track record of outperforming the spread, the value lies with the underdog. The Nets are well-positioned to exploit the Mavericks’ weakened roster. The prediction is for the Nets to cover the +3.5 spread, with a strong possibility of winning the game outright.
Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes only. All betting information is provided for informational purposes and is not a recommendation to wager.
Sources:
Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks Head-to-Head in the NBA …
Dallas Mavericks vs Brooklyn Nets Basketball Head To Head, Score …
Mavericks vs Nets scores & predictions | Sofascore
Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks History – NBA
Dallas Mavericks vs Brooklyn Nets head to head
Dallas Mavericks v Brooklyn Nets LIVE 13/01/2026 | Basketball …
Jason Kidd – Wikipedia
Huge week for Mavs and their play-in tournament chances | Dallas …
Avery Johnson – Wikipedia
NBA Team Standings & Stats | NBA.com