The 2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season was the 26th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/2006.html 2005-06 Dallas Mavericks season The season saw Dallas go to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, but lost to the Miami Heat, who were led by Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, in six games. Dallas and Miami met again in the 2011 NBA Finals, where the Mavericks avenged the loss and defeated the favored Heat in six games to win their first NBA championship. Teammates Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry were the only members of both 2006 and 2011 Finals teams.
In the playoffs, the Mavericks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. In the Western Conference semifinals, they met the San Antonio Spurs once again in the playoffs for the first time since the 2003 Western Conference finals, and defeated the Spurs in seven games. They got to Conference finals once again for the first time since 2003, where they beat the Phoenix Suns in six games and won their first conference title in franchise history. In the NBA Finals, they faced the Miami Heat but lost to them in six games.
Starting the season, the Mavericks started with a 35–10 record as Dirk Nowitzki was selected for the 2006 NBA All-Star Game in Houston. The Mavericks finished with a 60–22 record overall and second place in the Southwest Division. Head coach Avery Johnson was named Coach of The Year. Following the season, Keith Van Horn retired.
Draft picks
The Mavericks did not have any selections in the 2005 NBA Draft.
Roster
Regular season
Standings
Division
Conference
Game log
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | November 1 | @ Phoenix | | Dirk Nowitzki (28) | Dirk Nowitzki (15) | Darrell Armstrong (5) | America West Arena17,961 | 1–0 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | November 2 | @ Utah | | Jason Terry (21) | Keith Van Horn (11) | Keith Van Horn (3) | Delta Center18,249 | 1–1 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | November 5 | San Antonio | | Dirk Nowitzki (34) | Josh Howard (12) | Jason Terry (8) | American Airlines Center20,468 | 2–1 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | November 9 | @ Philadelphia | | Keith Van Horn (19) | Keith Van Horn (13) | Josh Howard (6) | Wachovia Center13,392 | 2–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | November 11 | @ Charlotte | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Dirk Nowitzki (16) | Dirk Nowitzki (4) | Charlotte Bobcats Arena18,130 | 3–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | November 12 | @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (30) | DeSagana Diop (5) | Devin Harris (5) | Ford Center19,163 | 4–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | November 15 | Denver | | Dirk Nowitzki (35) | DeSagana Diop (16) | Devin Harris (8) | American Airlines Center20,189 | 5–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | November 17 | Atlanta | | Josh Howard (25) | Dirk Nowitzki (13) | Daniels, Harris (4) | American Airlines Center20,148 | 6–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 9 | November 19 | Detroit | | Josh Howard (26) | Erick Dampier (14) | Marquis Daniels (6) | American Airlines Center20,337 | 7–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | November 22 | Houston | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Josh Howard (11) | Jason Terry (5) | American Airlines Center20,304 | 8–2 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | November 25 | @ Miami | | Josh Howard (25) | Josh Howard (11) | Jason Terry (10) | American Airlines Arena20,246 | 9–2 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 12 | November 26 | Memphis | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Howard, Nowitzki (9) | Marquis Daniels (3) | American Airlines Center20,135 | 9–3 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | November 28 | @ Toronto | | Dirk Nowitzki (29) | Nowitzki, Dampier (11) | Jason Terry (6) | Air Canada Centre15,789 | 10–3 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 14 | November 29 | @ Milwaukee | | Jason Terry (37) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Marquis Daniels (4) | Bradley Center14,996 | 10–4
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | December 1 | San Antonio | | Marquis Daniels (28) | Nowitzki, Diop (9) | Dirk Nowitzki (6) | American Airlines Center20,076 | 10–5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | December 3 | New Orleans/Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (30) | Nowitzki, Diop (8) | Daniels, Harris (5) | American Airlines Center19,651 | 11–5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | December 5 | @ Chicago | | Dirk Nowitzki (35) | Adrian Griffin (12) | Devin Harris (10) | United Center21,733 | 12–5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | December 6 | @ Indiana | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | Devin Harris (5) | Conseco Fieldhouse14,627 | 13–5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 19 | December 9 | @ Memphis | | Dirk Nowitzki (35) | Erick Dampier (11) | Devin Harris (8) | FedExForum17,176 | 14–5 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 20 | December 10 | Boston | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Adrian Griffin (10) | four players tied (4) | American Airlines Center20,156 | 15–5 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 21 | December 12 | L.A. Lakers | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Dirk Nowitzki (15) | Jason Terry (5) | American Airlines Center19,680 | 15–6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 22 | December 14 | Phoenix | | Dirk Nowitzki (29) | Josh Howard (18) | Terry, Harris (4) | American Airlines Center19,731 | 16–6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 23 | December 16 | Orlando | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Adrian Griffin (9) | Dirk Nowitzki (5) | American Airlines Center19,876 | 17–6 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 24 | December 18 | Minnesota | | Josh Howard (23) | Erick Dampier (8) | Devin Harris (6) | American Airlines Center20,134 | 18–6 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 25 | December 20 | @ L.A. Lakers | | Nowitzki, Harris (18) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | Nowitzki, Griffin (3) | Staples Center18,997 | 18–7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 26 | December 22 | @ Sacramento | | Dirk Nowitzki (37) | Josh Howard (13) | Josh Howard (6) | ARCO Arena17,317 | 19–7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 27 | December 23 | @ Seattle | | Dirk Nowitzki (34) | Dirk Nowitzki (13) | Dirk Nowitzki (7) | KeyArena16,211 | 20–7 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 28 | December 26 | Indiana | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Erick Dampier (14) | Devin Harris (5) | American Airlines Center20,337 | 21–7 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | December 30 | Golden State | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Erick Dampier (11) | Marquis Daniels (7) | American Airlines Center20,348 | 21–8 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 30 | December 31 | @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Dirk Nowitzki (10) | Dirk Nowitzki (5) | Ford Center19,170 | 22–8
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 31 | January 3 | Portland | | Terry, Nowitzki (22) | Josh Howard (10) | Jason Terry (7) | American Airlines Center20,018 | 23–8 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 32 | January 4 | @ Minnesota | | Dirk Nowitzki (23) | Erick Dampier (10) | four players tied (2) | Target Center15,702 | 23–9 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | January 6 | @ Denver | | Terry, Nowitzki (27) | Dirk Nowitzki (10) | Jason Terry (7) | Pepsi Center18,256 | 24–9 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 34 | January 7 | Minnesota | | Dirk Nowitzki (26) | Howard, Dampier (10) | Jason Terry (4) | American Airlines Center20,151 | 25–9 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 35 | January 9 | @ Boston | | Jason Terry (30) | Nowitzki, Diop (7) | Adrian Griffin (5) | TD Banknorth Garden15,064 | 26–9 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 36 | January 11 | @ New York | | Dirk Nowitzki (32) | Josh Howard (9) | Jason Terry (5) | Madison Square Garden17,469 | 26–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | January 14 | New Jersey | | Josh Howard (29) | DeSagana Diop (7) | Devin Harris (7) | American Airlines Center20,367 | 27–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 38 | January 16 | Milwaukee | | Dirk Nowitzki (35) | Josh Howard (11) | Jason Terry (5) | American Airlines Center19,935 | 28–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 39 | January 18 | @ Houston | | Dirk Nowitzki (29) | Erick Dampier (8) | Jerry Stackhouse (6) | Toyota Center15,966 | 29–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 40 | January 20 | @ L.A. Clippers | | Dirk Nowitzki (26) | Erick Dampier (12) | Jerry Stackhouse (6) | Staples Center17,883 | 30–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | January 22 | @ Portland | | Jerry Stackhouse (29) | Erick Dampier (10) | Josh Howard (4) | Rose Garden13,042 | 31–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 42 | January 25 | @ Golden State | | Jerry Stackhouse (23) | Adrian Griffin (10) | Jason Terry (5) | Oakland Arena16,842 | 32–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 43 | January 26 | @ Seattle | | Dirk Nowitzki (29) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Jason Terry (4) | KeyArena15,891 | 33–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | January 28 | Utah | | Josh Howard (24) | DeSagana Diop (6) | Terry, Stackhouse (4) | American Airlines Center20,394 | 34–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | January 31 | Chicago | | Josh Howard (22) | Josh Howard (9) | Jason Terry (5) | American Airlines Center19,567 | 35–10
|-style="background:#cfc;" | 46 | February 1 | @ Memphis | | Josh Howard (19) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Terry, Howard (3) | FedExForum15,817 | 36–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 47 | February 4 | Seattle | | Josh Howard (23) | Erick Dampier (14) | Jerry Stackhouse (7) | American Airlines Center20,369 | 37–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 48 | February 7 | L.A. Lakers | | Dirk Nowitzki (26) | Dirk Nowitzki (12) | Howard, Harris (4) | American Airlines Center20,379 | 38–10 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 49 | February 9 | Miami | | Dirk Nowitzki (27) | Erick Dampier (11) | Jason Terry (7) | American Airlines Center20,273 | 39–10 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 50 | February 10 | @ Denver | | Keith Van Horn (21) | Dirk Nowitzki (8) | Jason Terry (10) | Pepsi Center18,853 | 39–11 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 51 | February 13 | New York | | Dirk Nowitzki (21) | Erick Dampier (12) | Jason Terry (5) | American Airlines Center19,749 | 40–11 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 52 | February 15 | Washington | | Josh Howard (26) | Erick Dampier (9) | Marquis Daniels (5) | American Airlines Center19,714 | 41–11 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |-style="background:#cfc;" | 53 | February 21 | L.A. Clippers | | Josh Howard (23) | Dirk Nowitzki (10) | Terry, Griffin (4) | American Airlines Center19,584 | 42–11 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 54 | February 23 | Memphis | | Dirk Nowitzki (31) | Erick Dampier (10) | Jason Terry (6) | American Airlines Center19,912 | 43–11 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 55 | February 25 | Toronto | | Dirk Nowitzki (32) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | Jerry Stackhouse (8) | American Airlines Center19,791 | 44–11 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 56 | February 27 | Philadelphia | | Dirk Nowitzki (32) | Dirk Nowitzki (13) | Marquis Daniels (8) | American Airlines Center20,425 | 45–11
|-style="background:#fcc;" | 57 | March 2 | @ San Antonio | | Terry, Nowitzki (23) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | three players tied (2) | SBC Center18,797 | 45–12 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 58 | March 3 | Charlotte | | Dirk Nowitzki (26) | Erick Dampier (14) | Marquis Daniels (8) | American Airlines Center20,075 | 46–12 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 59 | March 5 | Phoenix | | Dirk Nowitzki (25) | Erick Dampier (11) | Dirk Nowitzki (5) | American Airlines Center20,340 | 46–13 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 60 | March 7 | Portland | | Jason Terry (26) | Dirk Nowitzki (10) | Nowitzki, Harris (4) | American Airlines Center20,216 | 47–13 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 61 | March 9 | @ Portland | | Dirk Nowitzki (33) | Dirk Nowitzki (10) | Devin Harris (7) | Rose Garden15,433 | 48–13 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 62 | March 11 | @ Utah | | Dirk Nowitzki (34) | Dirk Nowitzki (9) | Dirk Nowitzki (5) | Delta Center19,790 | 49–13 |-style="background:#fcc;" | 63 | March 12 | @ Sacramento | | Dirk Nowitzki (24) | Dirk Nowitzki (13) | Nowitzki, Terry (5) | ARCO Arena17,317 | 49–14 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 64 | March 14 | Cleveland | | Dirk Nowitzki (30) | Nowitzki, Dampier (13) | Dirk Nowitzki (6) | American Airlines Center20,425 | 50–14 |-style="background:#cfc;" | 65 | March 15 | @ Houston | | Dirk Nowitzki (30) | Dirk Nowitzki (11) | Jason Terry (4) | Toyota Center18,222 | 51–14