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Hornets vs. Mavericks prediction: Charlotte favored to win Thursday's NBA matchup [1/29/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Jason Bevilacqua, Head of Content and Communities
Get Charlotte Hornets vs Dallas Mavericks predictions for NBA Thursday.
The Dallas Mavericks will face the Charlotte Hornets in NBA action at American Airlines Center on Thursday, commencing at 8:30 PM ET.
The championship matchup pairs two 14–3 teams coming off sharply contrasting conference title games, with New England advancing through a low-scoring, snow-filled AFC Championship win over Denver and Seattle earning its place after a 31–27 NFC Championship thriller against the Rams.
The clash also spotlights two offensive focal points, with Drake Maye guiding New England through a composed, run-focused AFC title performance and Jaxon Smith-Njigba entering as Seattle’s primary playmaker following a 153-yard, one-touchdown outing in the NFC Championship.
Based on the latest simulation results and today’s injury reports, Dimers' proven NBA model predicts the Hornets as the most likely winner of the Hornets vs. Mavericks game.
This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Mavericks lineup will feature players like Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington and Brandon Williams, while the Hornets will look to Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Thursday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.
Hornets vs. Mavs prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NBA matchup between the Hornets and Mavericks 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model gives the Hornets a 60% chance of defeating the Mavericks. Our predicted final score has the Hornets winning 114-111.
According to our model, the Mavericks (+2.5) have a 54% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 225.5 points has a 51% chance of going over.
Hornets vs. Mavericks odds
We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Hornets | Mavericks |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -2.5 (-118) | +2.5 (-102) |
| Moneyline | -150 | +130 |
| Total | o225.5 (-112) | u225.5 (-102) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Hornets vs. Mavericks picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Mavericks +2.5 | -102 |
| Moneyline | Hornets | -150 |
| Total | Over 225.5 | -112 |
According to our best NBA bets for Thursday, the top play to make on this game is Mavericks +2.5 at the spread.
Hornets vs. Mavericks player props
Looking for Charlotte vs. Dallas NBA prop bets? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at American Airlines Center.
Brandon Miller is expected to lead the Hornets with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Cooper Flagg is projected to have 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the Mavericks.
Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.
Hornets prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Hornets are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Miller | 22 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 40 |
| LaMelo Ball | 19 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 41 |
| Kon Knueppel | 18 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 35 |
| Miles Bridges | 17 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 34 |
| Collin Sexton | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 21 |
Mavericks prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Mavericks:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Flagg | 19 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 39 |
| P.J. Washington | 16 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 34 |
| B. Williams | 15 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 29 |
| Max Christie | 14 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 27 |
| Klay Thompson | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 19 |
Hornets vs. Mavs game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's action between the Mavericks and Hornets at American Airlines Center is scheduled to commence at 8:30 PM ET.
- Who: Charlotte Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
- Time: 8:30 PM ET/5:30PM PT
- Venue: American Airlines Center
Conclusion
We predict the Hornets, with a 60% win probability, will likely beat the Mavericks on Thursday, with LaMelo Ball projected for a game-high 41 fantasy points.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Hornets vs. Mavericks insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Jason Bevilacqua, an expert in MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NFL, delivers game previews, best bets, and props. Since 2020, as Head of Social and Community at Dimers, he has contributed insightful articles utilizing data-driven models and simulations.
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