Dallas Mavericks 2024-25 schedule release: Here are 10 games to mark on your calendar this season

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks‘ 2024-25 regular season schedule has been released — and the upcoming season is looking to be an exciting one.

Coming off a Finals run, the Mavs are ready to run it back — with a new and improved cast of characters in place — but they’ll have to first succeed in the regular season if they want to set up an easier path to the Finals this coming postseason.

One good piece of news for the fans? While the Mavericks’ local broadcasts may remain somewhat in limbo, the team will have a whopping 30 national TV games this season.

Here is a list of games this season that you’re going to want to make a point of watching.

The Mavericks open up their season against likely their biggest traditional rival, the San Antonio Spurs. These teams couldn’t have been more different last season: The Mavs made a deep run to the Finals, while the Spurs finished second-to-last in the Western Conference.

But both teams have added new faces to their rosters over the offseason that could make a major impact on their performance. The Mavs, of course, added Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie. The Spurs, meanwhile, added two tried and true veterans: Chris Paul and former Mavericks player Harrison Barnes. The Spurs also picked up Stephon Castle with the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft from UConn.

This game tips off at 6:30 p.m. and will air on TNT.

Maybe the Rockets don’t look too scary this season — but they will be bringing their talented young roster to the American Airlines Center on Halloween night. If handing out candy isn’t your thing, maybe you can go see Luka dish some assists and, hopefully, leave the Rockets with a haunting beatdown? 

This game tips off at 7:30 p.m.

The Mavericks will take a road trip to San Francisco on Nov. 12 for a game that marks Klay Thompson’s first game back to the place where he was drafted and won four championships.

Thompson was traded to the Mavericks this offseason, marking the end of his 12-season run with the Warriors. And his on-court reunion with former teammates Steph Curry and Draymond Green, who were the key members of the franchise’s dynasty, is sure to be an emotional one.

This game tips off at 9 p.m. and will air on TNT.

Possibly the greatest gift to Mavericks fans this season? For the fifth season in a row, they’ll be getting Christmas Day basketball! And this holiday is made even sweeter by the fact that they’ll be at home. 

This time around, the Mavs will take on the Timberwolves in a rematch of the Western Conference Finals. Last season, the Mavs beat the Suns 128-114 on Christmas Day. Can they continue the cheerful spirit this year? 

This game tips off at 1:30 p.m. and will air on ABC.

In what could be one of his last seasons in the NBA, LeBron James comes to Dallas on Jan. 7. While James has dispelled rumors about his retirement this offseason, at 40 years old, his retirement is on the horizon whether he wants to admit it or not.

The Mavs might not mind that announcement coming sooner than later. Dallas has a 17-26 all-time record against LeBron. Of course, in those wins lurks a 2011 NBA Finals victory from his time with the Miami Heat.

Also of intrigue this time around? The Lakers drafted LeBron’s son Bronny James this offseason, meaning fans could even see a father-son duo on the floor.

This game tips off at 6:30 p.m. and will air on TNT.

On Jan. 25, Boston comes to Dallas in a rematch of the 2024 NBA Finals. Not only will the Mavs have home-court advantage, but the last time Boston was in American Airlines Center, the Mavs won 122-84 in a true Game 4 beatdown. That win also snapped Kyrie Irving’s 17-game losing streak against Boston.

This game tips off at 4:30 p.m. and will air on ABC.

Who says the same team can’t be circled on the calendar twice? After all, this is just one of two games where the Mavs will get to avenge last year’s Finals outcome — barring, of course, a rematch in June.

While Kyrie Irving may have snapped his losing streak against the Celtics in Game 4 of the 2023 Finals, he still hasn’t beaten his old team on their home court since his departure in 2019. And there’s no doubt: As ever, the Boston fans will be sure to loudly boo each time he gets the ball in this one. Some things never change!

This game tips off at 6:30 p.m. and will air on TNT.

OK, so, the Hornets aren’t team Mavs fans likely think about too often. But this season is maybe a little different, as Feb. 27 marks Josh Green’s first return to Dallas since he was traded this offseason.

Green was picked by the Mavericks with the 18th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and showed flashes of potential in his time with the team. Then, this summer, he was dealt to Charlotte in the trade for Klay Thompson.

On Green’s Instagram, his profile picture is still him in a Mavs jersey. We’re thinking he gets a warm reception in his return to town.

This game will tip off at 7:30 p.m.

Fans love a good rivalry, and in recent seasons, the beef between the Mavs and Suns has been as good as it gets. The rivalry hit its peak in the 2022 Western Conference Semifinals, which saw the Mavs prevail in seven games.

Since, though, the Suns have only bolstered an already strong offensive roster by adding in stars like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Don’t sleep on their role players, either: Grayson Allen boasted the highest 3-point percentage in the NBA last season, and Tyus Jones holds the single-season NBA record for the highest assist-to-turnover ratio. The Mavericks could have their hands full with this new Phoenix roster.

This game will tip off at 2:30 p.m. and will air on ABC.

Another former Dallas Maverick will dawn a different jersey in American Airlines Center this season: When the Pistons come to town on Mar. 21, Tim Hardaway Jr. will be among their ranks. Hardaway Jr., of course, spent the last 5 1/2 seasons with the Mavericks before he was dealt in the Klay Thompson trade to clear cap space.

This matchup will mark Hardaway Jr.’s only appearance in the AAC this season. Will it be weird to see him in another team’s jersey? For sure — even if fans had a love/hate relationship with the offensive-minded guard throughout his time in Dallas.

This game will tip off at 7:30 p.m.