PREVIEW: The Washington Wizards hit the road to face the Dallas Mavericks in a Friday night clash, both teams eager to notch their first win of the young NBA season after disappointing season openers. The Wizards dropped their regular season debut 133-120 to the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Mavericks suffered a 125-92 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Washington showed offensive depth with Khris Middleton leading the way with 23 points, Kyshawn George adding 21, and six players finishing in double figures. For Dallas, Anthony Davis led the charge with 22 points and 13 rebounds, supported by PJ Washington's 17 points and rookie Ryan Nembhard's five assists in limited minutes. The Mavericks will be without star Kyrie Irving, who is out for several months with a knee injury, potentially making their path to victory more challenging. Both teams are also dealing with additional injuries, with Washington missing Bilal Coulibaly and Dallas playing without Daniel Gafford, Dante Exum, and Kyrie Irving. Historically, the Mavericks have dominated this matchup, winning their last encounter 130-108 and holding a 6-2 record in their last eight home meetings. While Dallas appears to have a significant advantage, particularly with their core group from last season's playoff run, Washington will be looking to prove they can compete despite being without a true defensive anchor or go-to scorer.