The Charlotte Hornets head to Dallas with a chance to bank a road win against a banged-up Mavericks group, even as one big headline tips the scales back toward balance. Rookie standout Cooper Flagg has been cleared to return after a one-game absence for left ankle injury management, giving the home team a needed lift. The market still leans Charlotte, with the Hornets favored by 3.5 points and the total set at 226.5.

This is a clean, simple setup: one team looks healthier on the wing, the other is getting its brightest young star back, and both are missing key pieces elsewhere. It is also the kind of game that can reshape momentum for a week. For Dallas, Flagg’s return means a primary creator is back on the floor. For Charlotte, steady availability on the wing and at guard could be enough to grind out a road result.

Hornets vs Mavericks: Final Injury Report

Both teams arrive with long lists, but the headlines are clear. Dallas regains Flagg. Charlotte is still without size and a trusted vet at the four.

Charlotte Hornets

• Mason Plumlee: Out (groin surgery recovery)
• Grant Williams: Out (right knee injury management)
• Brandon Miller: Probable (left ankle impingement)

Dallas Mavericks

• Cooper Flagg: Cleared to play (left ankle injury management resolved)
• Klay Thompson: Probable (left knee soreness)
• Brandon Williams: Questionable (right ankle sprain)
• Anthony Davis: Out (left finger sprain)
• Kyrie Irving: Out (left knee surgery)
• Dereck Lively II: Out (right foot surgery)
• Danté Exum: Out (right knee surgery)
• Naji Marshall: Out (rest)

The note that says it best comes from the Mavericks’ final listing: “Indeed, the star rookie is no longer listed on the Mavericks’ injury report, confirming he’ll be on the floor against Charlotte.”

“If Flagg’s in, Dallas finally has a north star on offense again.”

What Cooper Flagg’s Return Means for Dallas

Dallas has struggled to score for long stretches and sits 27th in offensive rating. That number tells a simple story: the Mavericks need shot creation, ball movement, and rim pressure. Flagg brings all three. He plays with pace. He puts two defenders on their heels. He makes simple passes that create clean shots.

With several veterans still out, the offense often stalls late in the clock. Flagg’s return does not fix every hole, but it gives Dallas an engine. It also shifts defenders away from spot-up threats, which can help the Mavs turn long twos into open threes. For a team missing so many ball-handlers, that is gold.

Flagg is also a name in the Rookie of the Year race. Nights like this matter. When a rookie lifts a short-handed group and controls the game’s tempo, voters notice. Expect Dallas to put the ball in his hands early and often.

“Hornets -3.5 feels light if Dallas stays this thin, but Flagg tilts the math.”

Charlotte’s Checklist: Protect the Glass, Win the Wings

Charlotte arrives favored for a reason. The Hornets should control the wing battle if Brandon Miller is close to his normal self. His probable tag suggests he will suit up. With Grant Williams and Mason Plumlee out, the Hornets will likely lean on smaller, faster lineups, switch often, and try to run after misses.

The mission is simple on defense: keep Flagg out of the paint, make the other Mavericks beat you, and live with tough shots. On offense, tempo and spacing should be the recipe. Dallas is missing size at the rim and experience at the guard spots. Charlotte can target that with quick drives and kick-outs.

The Hornets will also need clean possessions late. Dallas will try to turn this into a half-court game when it matters. That means Charlotte’s decision makers must value the ball and hunt high-value looks at the rim or the arc.

“Brandon Miller’s ankle is the swing piece—if he’s right, Charlotte’s wings own the night.”

Betting Outlook: Spread, Moneyline, Total

Market snapshot:

• Spread: Hornets -3.5
• Money line: Hornets -155
• Over/Under: 226.5

The line respected Flagg’s upgrade but still reflects Dallas’s long list of absences. If Klay Thompson moves from probable to active, Dallas gets extra spacing and poise. Still, without several primary options, the Mavericks may need to win with defense and pace control.

The total at 226.5 sits in a tricky zone. Dallas has been a bottom-tier offense this season, but Flagg’s return can boost transition chances and paint touches. For Charlotte, a faster game suits its current rotation. The tug-of-war here is tempo. If Dallas drags the pace down and keeps the game in the 90s/low 100s, the under leans. If Charlotte turns misses into quick threes, the door opens to the over.

Three Storylines to Watch

• Flagg’s Usage: Does Dallas hand him the keys from the opening tip, or stagger his minutes to steady the second unit?
• Hornets’ Rebounding: Without Plumlee, can Charlotte close the possession on the first miss, or will second-chance points keep Dallas close?
• Shot Quality: The team that finds more corner threes and layups will likely control both the scoreboard and the pace.

Why This Game Matters Right Now

Big picture, this is about stability. Dallas has been short on bodies and short on easy offense. Getting Flagg back gives the Mavs a much-needed focal point and a reason to believe. Charlotte, meanwhile, must bank wins when favored, even on the road. Good teams take care of business against short-handed groups. That is how you build confidence and climb the table.

There is also a narrative angle: Flagg’s Rookie of the Year push. Nights with spotlight pressure help shape that race. If he shines against a prepared Charlotte defense, it strengthens his case. If the Hornets wall him off and force tough jumpers, they not only grab a road win but also send a message to the rest of the league on how to guard him.

The Bottom Line

Both sides have clear goals. Dallas needs Flagg to drive the offense, set the tone, and create clean looks for a short-handed cast. Charlotte needs to push pace, protect the ball, and win the wing minutes, especially if Brandon Miller feels right. The market says Hornets by a few. The return of Flagg says this could be tighter than it appears.

Either way, expect a game defined by tempo and poise. If the Hornets play to the number, they will lean on balance and depth. If the Mavericks pull the upset, it will start with their star rookie taking control, one calm read at a time.