Mavericks vs. 76ers Preview, Picks and Prediction, Saturday, December 20, 2025
Use Code WWWC On Saturday, the Dallas Mavericks will face the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and we have you ready to go with our Mavericks vs. 76ers prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from Philly is at 7:00 p.m. ET.
This is the first matchup of the season between these NBA teams. Philadelphia is 7-3 straight-up and 6-4 against the spread in the previous ten matchups. The under was 7-3 in those games. If you want the Mavericks vs. 76ers prediction, read on to get our top NBA predictions and increase your bankroll!
*Article published before Philadelphia's Friday night game vs. New York.
Mavericks are trending in the right direction
Dallas (11-17 SU, 14-14 ATS, and 12-16 O/U) beat Detroit 116-114 in overtime on Thursday, its sixth win in its last eight games. The Mavs outshot the Pistons despite hitting only five threes and giving up 70 points in the paint. They attempted nearly twice as many free throws as Detroit, knocking down 31 of their 36 foul shots. Rookie forward Cooper Flagg led the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds. He's averaging 25.4 points over his last eight games.
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Forward Anthony Davis paces the Mavericks with 19.6 points per game on 50.5 percent shooting. He also averages 10.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists. The Mavs score 113.0 points (25th) on 46.0 percent shooting (21st), including 33.6 percent from three-point distance (28th). Dallas' opponents average 116.7 points per game (17th) on 46.0 percent shooting (5th), including 32.9 percent from beyond the arc (1st).
The Mavericks went 38-43 last season, finishing 10th in the Western Conference standings. They lost to Memphis in the Play-In Tournament. On the heels of an NBA Finals appearance, Dallas mixed things up, trading star guard Luka Dončić to the Lakers for Davis, SG Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick. The shocking move sent shockwaves through the league, but after landing Duke sensation Cooper Flagg with the number one pick, it has helped solidify the Mavs' core. While Kyrie Irving recovers from last season’s torn ACL, D’Angelo Russell will play the point, distributing the basketball to a deep Dallas frontcourt rotation of Davis, Flagg, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Dwight Powell.
Dallas Mavericks Injury Report:
- No new injuries to report.
76ers have been up-and-down recently
Philadelphia (14-11 SU, 15-9-1 ATS, and 12-13 O/U) lost 120-117 on the road to Atlanta earlier this week. The 76ers have dropped two of their last three games, but won four of their previous five. They played in New York against the Knicks on Friday after this article was published.
G Tyrese Maxey leads Philadelphia in scoring at 31.5 points with 7.2 assists per game. A few other Sixers to watch against the Mavs are C Joel Embiid (20.5 PPG and 6.6 RPG), F Paul George (17.1 PPG and 5.0 RPG), and G Quentin Grimes (16.2 PPG and 4.5 APG).
Philadelphia averages 116.8 points per game (16th) and shoots 45.2 percent from the field (25th), including 36.3 percent from three (14th). The Sixers allow 115.8 points per game (14th) on 46.0 percent shooting (6th), including 34.9 percent from beyond the arc (8th). They are 16th in NET rating, including 15th in offensive rating and 15th in defensive rating, according to Dunks and Threes.
Philadelphia 76ers Injury Report:
- Embiid (illness) is questionable after sitting out Friday's game.
- F Trenton Watford (thigh) and F Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) are out.
Mavericks vs. 76ers Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Mavericks vs. 76ers
- Mavs cover spread (4 Units)
Dallas has momentum and a rest advantage on its side. The visitors have won and covered the spread in six of their previous eight games, as well. Philadelphia is 5-5 SU and ATS in its last ten, and it's 7-8 ATS at home and 0-3 ATS vs. the West this season. I'll fade their 7-0 ATS record with no rest this season, as that's unlikely to continue.
With the rookie Flagg finding his groove alongside the veteran star Davis, Dallas has a confident and capable duo. The Mavs scored 60 points in the paint last game and should get to the charity stripe in this game, as they rank 8th in the NBA in free-throw attempt rate this season. Embiid's status for this game is up in the air, and the Sixers' offense has been lackluster recently (111 PPG in the last five games).
Over/Under Pick for Mavericks vs. 76ers
- Over (4 Units)
I see some value in a bet on the over in Saturday's East-West clash in Philly. The visitors are among the fastest-paced teams in the NBA and tend to speed up their opponents, averaging the seventh-shortest defensive possession length (14.1 seconds per possession). The home team is slower tempo, but averages the shortest defensive possession length (13.8 seconds), suggesting both teams will get plenty of shots up. The over has also cashed in four of Dallas' last five games, and with the Mavs rested, I expect them to continue to put plenty of points on the scoreboard behind a more comfortable Flagg and healthier Davis.
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