The NBA released its 2026-27 regular season schedule on Thursday afternoon, getting fans excited for the upcoming season. For Dallas Mavericks fans, it meant counting down the days until we see Kyrie Irving return from injury and see Cooper Flagg in his second season. Based on how the schedule is set up, though, the Mavericks may have a rough start to the season. Last season, the NBA knew Kyrie Irving would at least miss the start of the season, so they backloaded the Mavericks' schedule, giving them easier opponents to start. That didn't matter, and Mavericks fans quickly knew the season was going to be a disaster after a loss to the Washington Wizards at home in the second game of the year. This season, it's the complete opposite. In the first 21 games, the Dallas Mavericks will play just 5 games against teams who weren't in the playoffs or the Play-In Tournament last season, but that includes two games against the Indiana Pacers, who will be getting Tyrese Haliburton back from injury, and two games against the Utah Jazz, who shouldn't be tanking anymore now that they've drafted Darryn Peterson and have Jaren Jackson Jr. fully healthy. Here is a look at the first 21 games of the season going into the NBA Cup break in early December. 2026-27 Dallas Mavericks schedule | NBA10/21 at Houston Rockets10/23 at Indiana Pacers10/24 vs San Antonio Spurs10/26 at Miami Heat10/28 vs Oklahoma City Thunder10/30 vs Houston Rockets11/2 vs Sacramento Kings11/4 at San Antonio Spurs11/6 vs Utah Jazz11/8 vs Brooklyn Nets11/9 vs Indiana Pacers11/12 at Minnesota Timberwolves11/14 at Cleveland Cavaliers11/15 at Boston Celtics 11/18 vs Golden State Warriors11/21 vs LA Clippers11/22 at Utah Jazz11/24 at Denver Nuggets11/27 at Phoenix Suns11/30 vs Boston Celtics12/2 vs Orlando MagicThis stretch includes four back-to-backs, but the road/home split is pretty even. While the Mavericks should improve themselves this season, it wouldn't be surprising at all to look up at the NBA Cup break, and they're 7-14 or worse. They'll get a chance at some easier games after the break, as four of the next six games will be against the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Sacramento Kings. Still, the NBA did the Mavericks no favors in the first quarter of the season. Apr 12, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) limps off the floor during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectWhat to Expect From Dallas Mavericks This SeasonA lot of people expect the Mavericks to improve this year, as getting Kyrie Irving back from injury will be a much-needed boost of playmaking and shot-making. Dereck Lively II also only played in 7 games last year, and while his status is mostly unknown, you'd hope he could play at least half the season. Most sportsbooks have the Mavericks in the 32-34 win range, which is well below .500, but still a step up from where they were last season. Based on this start of the season, it's going to be a challenge to try and get to the .500 mark. They have no reason to tank, especially with the new lottery odds and the fact that they owe their first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets unless it's in the top two. Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on X for the latest news.Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow