Expectations shape everything, even though right now the records of the Cavaliers and Mavericks are not so different. In fact, in the standings, Cleveland is more comfortable in the East. The feeling is different, though, with Dallas a major player in the West and holding out hope thanks to the Cooper Flagg phenomenon, while the Ohio side look like a contender fallen on hard times.
Date and time of Cavaliers vs Mavericks
Date: 14 November 2026 (early hours of Sunday 15 November in the United Kingdom).
Time: These are the Cavaliers vs Mavericks start times by time zone.
| United Kingdom | 00:30 |
| Dominican Republic, USA (Boston, New York and Miami), Puerto Rico and Venezuela | 19:30 |
| Mexico (central), USA (Texas and Chicago), El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua | 17:30 |
| Mexico (Pacific) and USA (Los Angeles) | 15:30 |
| Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay | 20:30 |
| Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama | 18:30 |
Venue: Rocket Arena, Cleveland (Ohio).
Starting fives for Cavaliers vs Mavericks
Evan Mobley missed yesterday’s game against Miami, but should be ready for tonight. Max Christie could return for Dallas.
| CAVALIERS | MAVERICKS |
| James Harden | Kyrie Irving |
| Donovan Mitchell | Caleb Martin/Max Christie |
| Peyton Watson | Cooper Flagg |
| Evan Mobley | P.J. Washington |
| Jarrett Allen | Daniel Gafford |
Cavaliers vs Mavericks: best bet
Dallas arrive with a significant advantage in terms of rest. The Mavericks have not played since Thursday, while Cleveland played in Miami on Friday and had trouble getting home because of disruption to their flight. Donovan Mitchell even said he would have preferred the game to be postponed.
The Cavaliers also come off a game in which they never really believed against Miami and struggled whenever Jarret Allen went to the bench. The Mavs’ inside power could cause them problems, although the hosts remain slight favourites.
Latest Cavaliers news: absences and form
- Out: Nae’Qwan Tomlin.
- Doubtful: Evan Mobley and Sam Merrill
It has been a week of ups and downs for the Cavaliers. The high: winning at Madison Square Garden. The low: losing in Miami, letting Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo do as they pleased.
James Harden, despite his great game in New York, still seems to be at odds with himself. Something does not quite fit in a team that once ran like clockwork. The supporting cast are performing well, but the collective display is poor, especially defensively.
Player to watch: Donovan Mitchell
A tough start to the season. Only in his rookie year did he average fewer points than he is scoring per night right now (23). That is partly because he is not finding those moments when the game is completely his, as his shooting percentages are in line with his usual numbers. He needs to step up, and he is the player with the most character in this group.
Latest Mavericks news: absences and form
- Out: Dereck Lively II, Tarik Biberović and Sergio de Larrea.
- Doubtful: Max Christie, Morez Johnson Jr.
Dallas land in Cleveland with a 7-5 record after suffering one of their heaviest defeats of the season. The Timberwolves handed them a 133-94 beating that ended a run of three straight wins. It was worrying how far Cooper Flagg was from getting the better of Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga.
The Texas side had begun to find some stability, particularly thanks to their ability to create advantages from the perimeter and make the most of Flagg’s talent. However, the defeat to Minnesota again exposed their problems in staying competitive when the opposition sets a high physical tempo.
The Mavericks average 113.2 points per game and concede 112.2.
Player to watch: Cooper Flagg
Flagg is having an outstanding start to the season, averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists. His versatility allows him to contribute in practically every facet of the game and take on responsibility as both a scorer and a playmaker.
If the game is close, he and Kyrie are a safe bet in the clutch, where they have won 3 of the 4 games they have played and where Flagg is the league’s fourth-highest scorer in those situations.
Cavaliers vs Mavericks: head-to-head record
The recent head-to-head favours the Cavaliers, although last season finished 1-1 and the most recent win went to Dallas. Before that, Cleveland had racked up seven straight victories stretching back to 2022.
Predictions for Cavaliers vs Mavericks
Cleveland Cavaliers to win with a +6.5 handicap. They are favourites, but a defeat would not be a surprise, so it would be wise to cover it with an opening handicap of +6.5 (the Mavericks could win by 6 points or fewer).
Under 231.5 points. The benchmark line is set at 231.5 points and the numbers for both teams point towards the under. Dallas concede 112.2 points per game and Cleveland, although they have greater offensive potential, come off a demanding game against Miami. If the Cavaliers feel the fatigue from the journey, the scoring pace could fall below expectations.
Cooper Flagg over 5.5 assists. The forward is averaging 6.5 assists per game and has become one of the Mavericks’ main playmakers. Given the difficulties Cleveland’s defence can pose, Dallas will need to make the most of his ability to draw help defenders and find open teammates. His versatility gives him plenty of ways to clear this line.
Where to watch Cavaliers vs Mavericks
The game between Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks will be available to watch in the United Kingdom via an NBA League Pass subscription.
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