Paige Bueckers exploded for 44 points in a career night, the most by a rookie in WNBA history, as the Dallas Wings fell 81-80 to the Los Angeles Sparks. The performance amplified her star power, with All-Star starter status and a courtside spotlight that included Ellen Pompeo and Shemar Moore, who later connected with Bueckers in the tunnel. The night underscored the draw of a breakout rookie who can lift a franchise’s fantasy appeal even in a loss.

The scene wasn’t only about Bueckers; Holmgren and Green were among the onlookers, signaling cross-sport interest in the league. Bueckers is averaging 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals this season, a profile that fantasy managers will monitor as Dallas tries to maximize her playmaking around a Wings attack. The Sparks’ late-game defense slammed the door on a potential playoff push for Dallas, but the legend-in-the-making moment should echo through the rest of the season for fantasy and bettors alike.

NBA 2K26 unveils its Top 100, and the Dallas Mavericks punch three players into the elite group: Anthony Davis sits at No. 12 with a 93 overall, Kyrie Irving is right behind at No. 24 with a 90, and Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the draft, lands at No. 79 with an 82. Flagg earns a special nod as the game’s top rookie, surpassing Dylan Harper by four points. The list also notes that PJ Washington, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford did not crack the Top 100 this year.

Irving’s ACL rehab will shape early-season usage, while Davis is anticipated to shoulder Mavericks’ heavy lifting as the primary option. Lively II and Gafford are highlighted as solid shot-blocking talents (both at 91), and the game assigns Jokic and Curry standout mid-range and ball-handling benchmarks. Irving’s ball-handling reaches 99; Jokic sits at 98 mid-range, while Thompson checks in with 89 from deep. The release schedule lands Sept. 5 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with early access on Aug. 29 for deluxe versions. Dallas fans also get a preseason test versus Oklahoma City in Fort Worth ahead of the full launch.

Dallas enters a season defined by potential and pressure, betting on Kyrie Irving’s return, Anthony Davis anchoring the frontcourt, and Cooper Flagg stepping into a rookie-ready role. The trio blends veteran playmaking, two-way defense, and versatile multi-positional tools, giving Dallas one of the NBA’s most intriguing paths to relevance. Chemistry becomes the linchpin: if Irving’s ACL recovery and Flagg’s rapid acclimation align, the Mavericks could morph from a work in progress into a postseason threat by spring.

Davis provides a veteran two-way anchor and a steadying presence for Flagg as he learns the league’s speed. Flagg’s Duke numbers—nearly 20 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game—signal a modern, ball-handling forward who thrives without being the offense’s only driver. Yet timing matters: healthy, cohesive minutes must be carved out quickly to maximize late-season impact.

ESPN’s panel has tempered expectations, with a sizable share predicting two or fewer playoff series in their first run together, citing health and experience. Still, Irving’s shot creation, Davis’s defense, and Flagg’s adaptability offer a rare blend of experience and youth. If minutes are managed wisely and roles clarified, Dallas could become one of the league’s toughest outs come spring.

In sum, talent isn’t Dallas’s ceiling—it’s the timing of that talent. A fast, well-constructed chemistry wave could turn the Mavericks into a legitimate playoff disruptor, while delays could keep them competing for a March surge rather than a long postseason run.

Christmas Day features Dallas at Golden State on a stage suited for boostable fantasy value. Klay Thompson returns to the Bay, a potential heavy-volume shooter in a refreshed Mavs rotation that still leans on three-point gravity. Cooper Flagg is slotted into the starting lineup, offering rookie intrigue and potential value as Dallas leans into a youth-driven, title-minded roster. Luka Doncic’s and the Mavericks’ big-picture storylines collide with an aging Warriors core, while Kyrie Irving sits out to recover from ACL injury, pushing usage toward Doncic and Thompson.

The matchup threads a longer Lakers-Warriors/Knicks-Nets energy with a full Christmas slate, including LeBron James and Kevin Durant in possible holiday notes. Bronny James and Dylan Harper headline intriguing subplots: Bronny’s first Christmas Day spotlight for the Lakers, and Harper’s top-draft-pick season pressure against Flagg’s growth arc in Dallas. While the other marquee games attract attention, Thompson’s Bay Area homecoming and Flagg’s first Christmas Day push offer meaningful fantasy upside in spots where shot-tolerance and ball handling will decide rotations and late-game run.

Dallas opens the season Oct. 22, so this Christmas stage also serves as a tone-setter for a revitalized roster chasing title contention. Expect Thompson to command touches around the arc, with Flagg drawing early starter minutes and Doncic amplifying fantasy output even with Irving unavailable. The day’s schedule reinforces the broader picture: a league-wide emphasis on high-leverage, multi-positional players who can contribute in scoring, threes, and assists during crucial minutes.

In short, Christmas Day isn’t just marquee theater; it’s a fantasy laboratory where veteran sharpshooters, rising rookies, and star-caliber ball-handlers collide in pivotal rotations that will define early-season value. For fantasy players, this is a week to identify boosts from Thompson’s volume, Flagg’s floor time, and Doncic’s dynamic usage against a Warriors squad that will test Dallas on a national stage.

The 2025-26 NBA schedule unfolds with a first-week blockbuster: Durant returns to Oklahoma City on opening night as Houston visits the Thunder, a banner-raising backdrop fueling a marquee start for both teams. The slate keeps delivering high-stakes drama—from a Dallas-Mavericks-Spurs mini-renaissance featuring Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Victor Wembanyama to a Christmas showdown in New York between the Knicks and Cavaliers that belts with star power. Throughout, the league leans into rosters rebuilt around youth movement and veteran splash, promising fantasy-friendly opportunities as players chase fresh glory.

Key early-season tests shape the calendar: OKC’s title-or-bust vibe clashes with Durant’s Rockets; Flagg and Wembanyama enter a rivalry-forwarded clash in Dallas; a Pacers rebuild meets OKC in Indy with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined; Nets face a Cavaliers squad that owned the regular season last year; Durant’s reunions with former teams dot the schedule, adding narrative fuel to fantasy workloads. The Christmas card—Cavaliers at Knicks—feels like a title preview, as Brunson, Towns, Mitchell, and Mobley showcase top-tier offensive firepower. By February, the OKC-Jokic duel and the SGA-MVP-era vibes push the season toward early benchmarks and broken-roster bets.