The Dallas Mavericks (11–17, 3–7 Away) are coming off a gritty 116–114 overtime win in Detroit — a game that may have been too close for comfort, but still marked another notch in their late-December climb.
Now they head to Philadelphia to face the 76ers (15–11, 8–7 Home), who remain uncertain on the status of Joel Embiid and have already ruled out Kelly Oubre.
Dallas has now won six of its last eight — a stretch fueled by rim pressure, high free-throw volume, and the accelerating development of Cooper Flagg. Even in their losses, the execution has improved, and the effort has held steady. Philadelphia, meanwhile, just played a tough game against the Knicks last night and could be dealing with fatigue on the second night of a back-to-back — especially with Embiid still listed as day-to-day.
If Dallas really has turned a corner, it’ll show in matchups like this: beatable opponents on the second night of a back-to-back, with your key guys playing better and your rotation settling.
Let’s scan the lines in search of value.
Game Fixtures
December 20, 2025 — Dallas Mavericks (11–17, 3–7 Away) at Philadelphia 76ers (15–11, 8–7 Home)
Tipoff: 6:00 PM CT — Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
How To Watch: KFAA-TV, Mavs.com
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook (as of 11:45 AM CST)
Spread: DAL +1.5 (-108) / PHI -1.5 (-112)
Total: 228.5 (O -110 / U -110)
Moneyline: DAL +102 / PHI -122
Game Sides
Lean: Mavericks +1.5 (contingent on Embiid being ruled out)
Lean: Under 228.5
The Mavericks are trending up — not in flashy ways, but in grounded, repeatable ones. Their drives per game rank seventh in the league over the past ten contests, and they’re converting those into high-quality looks, foul line trips, and more balanced scoring. Detroit forced overtime, but Dallas still shot 86% from the stripe and got key stops late.
This is a gut check moment. The Sixers are solid at home (8–7) and still dangerous when Maxey gets loose, but if Embiid is out or limited, this feels like a game Dallas should be expected to win. They’re better rested, slightly healthier, and playing with more cohesion on both ends.
We’re also leaning under the total here. Without Embiid, Philly’s scoring profile narrows considerably, and Dallas games—even in wins—haven’t typically turned into track meets. If the pace resembles regulation tempo from the Detroit game (not the OT-inflated final score), then something closer to 215–220 feels more realistic than the 229 range currently listed.
Player Props
Cooper Flagg over 18.5 Points (-102)
Flagg has cleared 20 points in four of his last six games, including a career-high 42-point explosion against Utah. His confidence in transition and comfort at the line (35-for-42 in that stretch, 83.3%) give this line value, especially in a game that could lean on his isolation scoring if Philly loads up on Davis.
Tyrese Maxey over 3.5 threes (+153)
This is a plus-money dart with merit. Maxey has hit at least four threes in four of his last six games, including 6-for-12 against the Knicks and 5-for-8 versus the Lakers. With Embiid uncertain and Philly’s shot creation concentrated in his hands, the volume will be there — he’s taken 9+ attempts in 9 of his last 12 games. If Dallas collapses early on his drives, this line could clear before the fourth quarter.
