The Dallas Mavericks face the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night, carrying momentum from recent wins despite ongoing injury challenges. Both teams have shown upward trends, with Philadelphia securing a key road victory over the New York Knicks. Availability questions surround key Mavericks players as they aim to extend their surge.
The Dallas Mavericks (11-17) head into their inter-conference showdown against the Philadelphia 76ers (14-11) on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. EDT (6:00 p.m. CST) at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Dallas has won six of its last eight games after a rocky 5-15 start, highlighted by a 116-114 overtime victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Thursday. In that thriller, rookie Cooper Flagg recorded 23 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and three blocks, while Anthony Davis contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds despite the team squandering an 18-point lead.
Philadelphia enters on a high note, having defeated the New York Knicks 116-107 on Friday night—the second visiting win at Madison Square Garden this season, snapping New York's six-game winning streak. Tyrese Maxey led with 30 points and nine assists, including 11 in the fourth quarter as the 76ers outscored the Knicks 28-20 in the period. Rookie VJ Edgecombe added 23 points (18 in the second half), and Andre Drummond posted 14 points and 13 rebounds, hitting three of four three-pointers, with Joel Embiid sidelined by illness and knee injury management. This marks Philadelphia's fifth win in seven games.
Injury concerns loom for Dallas. Anthony Davis, averaging 19.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 12 games, is probable with illness after attending shootaround. Klay Thompson (10.8 points per game in 26 appearances) is questionable due to left knee soreness, having missed shootaround. Kyrie Irving remains without a return timetable as he rehabs a torn ACL; coach Jason Kidd noted, “There’s no schedule still... He’s in a good place. He’s rehabbing.” Long-term absences include Dereck Lively II and Danté Exum for the season.
Guard Brandon Williams credited the Mavericks' improved late-game execution to experience: “We’ve been in a lot of these positions this year... We kind of just learned from them, and it’s paying off now.” He praised Flagg's maturity ahead of the rookie's 19th birthday on Sunday, where Flagg has averaged 25.4 points over his last eight games.
Both teams are trending upward—Dallas stabilizing through availability and execution, Philadelphia finding depth without Embiid—setting up a test of momentum on the second night of a back-to-back for the hosts.