News Mavericks Team Notes

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets — Mavericks vs. Hornets: Rookie Bowl

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.

But tonight’s context reshuffles things. Dallas had key players sit versus Minnesota, giving them fresher legs than a normal back-to-back team, and they’ve quietly led the league in opponent three-point percentage this season. That strength shows up exactly where Charlotte wants to live — on the perimeter, in rhythm, with space.

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.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ericks-vs-hornets-rookie-bowl-and-trade-smoke