Dallas Basketball

Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg, Mavericks get Christmas Day matchup vs. Steph Curry, Warriors

Cooper Flagg will be playing on Christmas Day as Klay Thompson returns to the Bay Area for a marquee matchup.
Feb 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Feb 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

ESPN's NBA insider Shams Charania announced the NBA's Christmas Day schedule for the 2025-26 season, one of the most highly anticipated days of the regular season. They always give fans marquee matchups throughout the day, and the Dallas Mavericks will be featured for the sixth straight year.

They'll be on the road this year, facing off against the Golden State Warriors, per Charania. The other matchups include the Cleveland Cavaliers against the New York Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets against the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Denver Nuggets.

READ MORE: Mavericks, Warriors expected to pursue Lakers' LeBron James in next free agency: Report

There are a few storylines to look forward to in this matchup. Obviously, any time Klay Thompson returns to the Bay Area, it's worth keeping an eye on. In his four games against his former team last season, Thompson averaged 19.8 PPG and nailed 21 three-pointers, nearly twice as many as he made against any other team. He'll be facing off against his former Splash Brother, Stephen Curry, as well as Draymond Green.

Dallas and Golden State did land a win over the new-look Warriors after they traded for Jimmy Butler, 111-107, just before the All-Star break. However, the Mavericks had Kyrie Irving for that game, and his status will be questionable, at best, for that game as he recovers from ACL surgery.

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg
Jul 12, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) looks on against the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter of their game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images | Candice Ward-Imagn Images

It will also give first overall pick Cooper Flagg a taste of the limelight in his rookie season. The Warriors are expected to be a good team, and the Mavericks may want to feed Klay Thompson against his former team, but a lot of attention will be paid to Flagg in his first Christmas Day Game.

The Mavericks are 4-4 in Christmas Day games all-time, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves last year in what turned out to be Luka Doncic's last game with the franchise. He went down with a calf strain in that game and was traded a little over a month later.

Dallas also signed. D'Angelo Russell this offseason, who had a brief stint with the Warriors in the 2019-20 season.

Other Mavericks Christmas Matchups That Should've Been Considered

It's a little surprising that the NBA didn't give fans a Luka Doncic-Mavericks matchup on either Christmas or on opening day, as it appears the Lakers will play the Warriors to start the season. Unless there's another matchup announced, the first meeting between the new-look Doncic and the Mavericks wouldn't come until NBA Cup action starts.

A matchup against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs also would've been intriguing. The Spurs and Mavericks should have another thrilling rivalry for the next decade, at least, and they have the top two picks of the 2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper.

READ MORE: How the Luka Doncic-Lakers trade impacted the ensuing Mavericks-76ers trade: Report

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Austin Veazey
AUSTIN VEAZEY

Austin Veazey joined NoleGameday as the Lead Basketball Writer in 2019, while contributing as a football writer, and started as editor for MavericksGameday in 2024. Veazey was a Florida State Men’s Basketball Manager from 2016-2019. Follow Austin on Twitter at @EasyVeazeyNG

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