The 1985-86 Dallas Mavericks marked a significant season in the franchise’s history, showcasing their growing presence in the NBA. Under head coach Dick Motta, the Mavericks finished the regular season with a 44-38 record. This performance earned them a third-place finish in the Midwest Division and a playoff berth for the third consecutive year, highlighting their consistency in the league.
Key players for Dallas included Mark Aguirre, who led the team with an impressive scoring average, and Rolando Blackman, whose contributions were critical on both ends of the floor. In the playoffs, the Mavericks faced the Utah Jazz in the first round. Dallas triumphed over Utah, securing a 3-1 series victory. However, their postseason run ended in the Western Conference Semifinals, where they were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers in a challenging five-game series (1-4), underscoring the gap between them and the league’s elite. This season laid the foundation for future successes for the Mavericks.
- Regular Season Record: 44-38
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats for 1985-86 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Mark Aguirre | 74 | 22.6 | 6.0 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 28.6 | 10 | 24.7 | 7.1 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Rolando Blackman | 82 | 21.5 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 13.8 | 10 | 20.8 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Sam Perkins | 80 | 15.4 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 33.3 | 10 | 14.9 | 8.3 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 25.0 |
| Jay Vincent | 80 | 13.8 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 10 | 10.6 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Derek Harper | 79 | 12.2 | 2.9 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 23.5 | 10 | 13.4 | 1.9 | 7.6 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 57.1 |
| Brad Davis | 82 | 9.3 | 1.8 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 35.9 | 10 | 7.7 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 66.7 |
| James Donaldson | 69 | 8.3 | 9.6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 10 | 10.9 | 11.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Dale Ellis | 72 | 7.1 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 36.2 | 7 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 58.3 |
| Kurt Nimphius | 13 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Detlef Schrempf | 64 | 6.2 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 42.9 | 10 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Bill Wennington | 56 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Wallace Bryant | 9 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Uwe Blab | 48 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Harold Keeling | 20 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dallas Mavericks in the 1986 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Utah Jazz
In the first round of the 1986 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks faced the Utah Jazz and emerged victorious in a closely contested series that went to the full five games. Led by the dynamic duo of Mark Aguirre and Rolando Blackman, the Mavericks showcased their resilience and offensive prowess, ultimately clinching the series with a decisive Game 5 win at home. This victory marked a significant step in the franchise's early playoff history, highlighting their potential as a rising force in the Western Conference.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 101-93 | |
| Apr 20, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 113-106 | |
| Apr 23, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 100-98 | |
| Apr 25, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | W 117-113 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1986 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. Despite a valiant effort, the Mavericks were overpowered by the Lakers' star-studded lineup, ultimately losing the series 4-2. This marked a significant moment in Mavericks' history as it was their first time advancing past the first round, setting the stage for future competitiveness in the league.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 130-116 | |
| Apr 30, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-113 | |
| May 02, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-108 | |
| May 04, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 120-118 | |
| May 06, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-113 | |
| May 08, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-107 |
Dallas Mavericks 1985-86 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1985-86 season for the Dallas Mavericks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1985 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-95 | |
| Oct 29, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 133-115 | |
| Nov 01, 1985 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 116-107 | |
| Nov 02, 1985 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 119-113 | |
| Nov 06, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 111-109 | |
| Nov 07, 1985 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 131-99 | |
| Nov 09, 1985 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 115-110 | |
| Nov 12, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-90 | |
| Nov 13, 1985 | @ Utah Jazz | W 115-100 | |
| Nov 15, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 110-98 | |
| Nov 16, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 122-117 | |
| Nov 19, 1985 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 123-119 | |
| Nov 23, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 117-104 | |
| Nov 26, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 112-99 | |
| Nov 29, 1985 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 133-111 | |
| Nov 30, 1985 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 124-115 | |
| Dec 03, 1985 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 107-100 | |
| Dec 05, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 120-116 | |
| Dec 07, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-110 | |
| Dec 08, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 125-119 | |
| Dec 10, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 120-118 | |
| Dec 12, 1985 | @ Houston Rockets | L 123-120 | |
| Dec 14, 1985 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 127-100 | |
| Dec 18, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 137-117 | |
| Dec 19, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 120-108 | |
| Dec 21, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 132-107 | |
| Dec 22, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 119-105 | |
| Dec 26, 1985 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 105-98 | |
| Dec 27, 1985 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 142-133 | |
| Jan 04, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 119-106 | |
| Jan 07, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 132-110 | |
| Jan 10, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 117-104 | |
| Jan 11, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 127-123 | |
| Jan 13, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 90-89 | |
| Jan 15, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | L 116-112 | |
| Jan 17, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 139-112 | |
| Jan 19, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 131-96 | |
| Jan 21, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 119-110 | |
| Jan 22, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 131-118 | |
| Jan 24, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 129-120 | |
| Jan 25, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 123-107 | |
| Jan 27, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 124-116 | |
| Jan 29, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 126-114 | |
| Jan 31, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-91 | |
| Feb 02, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 100-97 | |
| Feb 04, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-102 | |
| Feb 06, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 115-111 | |
| Feb 11, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 121-107 | |
| Feb 12, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 117-110 | |
| Feb 14, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 119-110 | |
| Feb 16, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 120-114 | |
| Feb 17, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 126-124 | |
| Feb 19, 1986 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 124-107 | |
| Feb 21, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 111-104 | |
| Feb 22, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 113-106 | |
| Feb 24, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 110-105 | |
| Feb 26, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-116 | |
| Feb 28, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 123-120 | |
| Mar 01, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 119-110 | |
| Mar 03, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 139-138 | |
| Mar 06, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 131-113 | |
| Mar 07, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 125-114 | |
| Mar 09, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 117-102 | |
| Mar 10, 1986 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 116-115 | |
| Mar 12, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 127-120 | |
| Mar 14, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 129-118 | |
| Mar 15, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 108-98 | |
| Mar 18, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 120-113 | |
| Mar 20, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | W 114-107 | |
| Mar 21, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 107-103 | |
| Mar 24, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 126-120 | |
| Mar 26, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | L 120-112 | |
| Mar 27, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | W 110-105 | |
| Mar 30, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-113 | |
| Apr 01, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 128-98 | |
| Apr 03, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 115-114 | |
| Apr 05, 1986 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-109 | |
| Apr 07, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 122-115 | |
| Apr 08, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 129-115 | |
| Apr 10, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-109 | |
| Apr 12, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 115-108 | |
| Apr 13, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 127-104 |