Charlotte Hornets vs Dallas Mavericks Preseason Game Prediction and Preview

The Charlotte Hornets will take on the Dallas Mavericks in one of four NBA preseason games scheduled for Saturday. This will be the third preseason game for the Hornets after going 0-2 in their first two games against the OKC Thunder.

The Dallas Mavericks, meanwhile, defeated the Thunder 106-89 in their first preseason game on Monday. D’Angelo Russell, Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson played limited minutes in the matchup.

Expect Charles Lee and Jason Kidd to play their starters sparingly as both teams have multiple games on their schedule ahead of the regular season.

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Charlotte Hornets vs Dallas Mavericks Preview, Predicted Starting Lineups and Prediction

The Mavericks-Hornets game will tip off at American Airlines Center at 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT). Fans can catch the live broadcast on KFAA. Alternatively, the matchup can be streamed with NBA League Pass and FuboTV.

Moneyline: Mavericks (-260) vs Hornets (+180)

Odds: Mavericks (-6.5) vs Hornets (+6.5)

Total: Mavericks -110 (u226.5) vs Hornets -110 (o226.5)

Editor's note: Odds are accurate at the time of writing and may change closer to tip-off.

Charlotte Hornets vs Dallas Mavericks Preview

It has been a big summer for the Charlotte Hornets, marking the arrival of Pat Connaughton, Spencer Dinwiddie, Mason Plumlee and Collin Sexton. Led by LaMelo Ball, the team has aggressively shuffled its roster this offseason after finishing 14th (19-63) in the Eastern Conference in the 2024-25 season.

The Hornets are yet to find their footing as Charles Lee heads into his second year as the team’s head coach.

The Mavericks have also had a big summer, which began with Luka Doncic’s trade to the LA Lakers mid-season in 2024-25. The team missed the 2025 playoffs despite acquiring Anthony Davis, but looks stronger heading into the new season.

D’Angelo Russell and Dennis Smith Jr.’s arrival will go a long way toward filling the gap left by Kyrie Irving’s ACL injury. Moreover, the returning Dante Exum and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg are also expected to boost the team’s frontcourt rotation, with many expecting Flagg to be a starter throughout the campaign.

Charlotte Hornets vs Dallas Mavericks Predicted Starting Lineups

Mavericks

G: D’Angelo Russell | G: Klay Thompson | F: Cooper Flagg | F: Anthony Davis | C: Dereck Lively II

Hornets

G: LaMelo Ball | G: Brandon Miller | F: Kon Knueppel | F: Miles Bridges | C: Moussa Diabate

Charlotte Hornets vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction

The Mavericks are heavy favorites to win Saturday’s game against the Hornets. Charlotte has opened the preseason with two losses, while the Mavs have looked strong, taking down the OKC Thunder in their opener on Monday.

Our prediction: The Mavericks to win

About the author

Sameer is an esports and gaming journalist at Sportskeeda who covers a diverse range of topics. He is currently pursuing a BSc degree from BITS, but his love for video games pushed him to pursue a gaming journalism career. He relies on diligent research and fact-checking to deliver top-notch content. He has previously worked in the hospitality sector with the Oberoi Group.

Sameer’s gaming journey began with Rockstar Games’ GTA franchise, specifically
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. He strongly prefers multiplayer games, with FPS being his favorite genre, and has devoted 6K+ hours to CS:GO! However, he also dabbles in open-world, story-based games from time to time. Solo RPGs like Horizon Forbidden West hold a soft spot in his heart, and he would readily drop in it given a Jumanji-type scenario.

Sameer makes sure to follow Counter-Strike and Valorant esports tournaments, as he believes that watching a game being played at the highest level can be highly educational. He derives inspiration from Tarik's meteoric rise to become one of the biggest FPS streamers in the world following the release of Valorant.

Outside of work, you can find Sameer playing football or cheering for FC Barcelona. He also likes to read and write poetry.

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Edited by Sameer Khan

Charlotte Hornets vs Dallas Mavericks Preseason Game Prediction and Preview | Oct. 11, 2025