Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT)
Venue: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
This Southwest Division matchup is the penultimate game of the 2025-26 regular season for both teams, with the rebuilding Dallas Mavericks visiting the playoff-bound San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. San Antonio enters as one of the league’s top teams and looks to extend its recent dominance over Dallas, while the Mavericks—already eliminated—are focused on development and lottery positioning in a season highlighted by rookie Cooper Flagg’s emergence.
Injury Report
Dallas Mavericks:
Brandon Williams (G) – GTD (illness)
Naji Marshall (F) – GTD (hip)
Caleb Martin (SF) – GTD (foot/heel)
Daniel Gafford (C) – GTD (shoulder)
Long-term: Kyrie Irving (SG) – Out (left knee surgery); Dereck Lively II (C) – Out (right foot surgery, season); additional depth pieces on two-way/G-League status.
San Antonio Spurs:
Stephon Castle (PG) – DTD (knee)
Victor Wembanyama (C) – DTD (rib)
Limited other absences; core rotation largely intact.
Dallas is extremely thin and dealing with multiple day-to-day issues plus season-ending losses, forcing heavy reliance on young talent and call-ups. San Antonio’s injuries are manageable and unlikely to derail their rotation depth.
Player Matchups & Probable Starters
DAL Probable Starters: Cooper Flagg (key rookie forward/guard hybrid), plus available pieces like Marvin Bagley III, Max Christie, and rotation depth (lineup fluid due to GTDs).
SAS Probable Starters: Victor Wembanyama (C), plus backcourt/wing stars including De’Aaron Fox (if healthy) and supporting cast like Harrison Ingram or others in the rotation.
Key Matchups:
Cooper Flagg vs. Victor Wembanyama: The 2025 No. 1 pick Flagg (showing Rookie of the Year flashes with double-doubles and defense) battles Wembanyama’s generational size, rim protection, and scoring in what could be a marquee young-star showdown.
Mavericks perimeter vs. Spurs backcourt: Dallas’s makeshift guard play (Christie, Williams if active) faces San Antonio’s elite spacing and transition attack.
Bench/Depth: The Spurs’ veteran and high-upside rotation provides overwhelming advantages in scoring, rebounding, and defensive versatility against Dallas’s injury-riddled and inexperienced group.
San Antonio’s superior size, athleticism, and execution should control the paint and perimeter.
Recent Team Forms
Mavericks (struggling stretch, L2 most recently): Dallas fell 112-107 at Phoenix on April 8 (with Flagg posting 11-13-6) and has been inconsistent offensively while ranking near the bottom league-wide in efficiency.
Spurs (strong form, W2): San Antonio has maintained elite production (119.6 PPG scored, 111.2 allowed) with balanced scoring and defense, winning consistently at home and against divisional foes.
Series History
The Spurs have dominated the 2025-26 season series and hold a 4-game head-to-head win streak entering tonight (including recent blowouts and competitive victories). Historically, San Antonio has owned this rivalry in recent years, with games at Frost Bank Center often resulting in comfortable home wins. This is the final 2025-26 meeting between the divisional rivals.
Betting Trends
San Antonio covers as large home favorites at a high rate; unders have been common in some recent Spurs games, but Mavericks contests often trend higher due to pace. Dallas is poor ATS against top teams.
Game Odds
Dallas Mavericks 238.5
San Antonio Spurs – 18.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, April 9, 2026
