Cavs Face Mavericks, Look to Rebound After Loss

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The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to bounce back from a frustrating loss to the Orlando Magic as they take on the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas has struggled this season, but rookie sensation Cooper Flagg has been a bright spot. The Cavs will be without several key players due to injuries, while the Mavericks also have a number of players sidelined.

Why it matters

This game is an important one for the Cavaliers as they try to maintain their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race. A win over the struggling Mavericks would be a confidence boost, while a loss could hurt their standing. For Dallas, this is a chance to play spoiler and potentially pull off an upset against one of the top teams in the league.

The details

The Cavaliers will be without several key players, including Jarrett Allen, Tyrese Proctor, Max Strus, and Olivier Sarr. The Mavericks will also be shorthanded, with Kyrie Irving, Dereck Livery II, Klay Thompson, and several G League players all ruled out. The Cavs are expected to start James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, and Evan Mobley, while the Mavericks will likely go with Naji Marshall, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford.

• The game will take place on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM in Dallas, Texas.
• The Cavaliers and Mavericks previously met earlier this season, with the Cavs winning the day after the Luka Doncic trade.

What’s next

The Cavaliers will look to build on this game as they continue their push for a high playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. The Mavericks, meanwhile, will hope to use this game as a springboard to turn around their disappointing season.