One of the most shocking streaks in NBA history is on the line this year for the Spurs as they haven’t missed the post-season since the 1996-97 campaign but are on track to do so this year. This team could look quite a bit different next season if former Raptor DeMar DeRozan turns down his nearly $28 million (US) player option to hit free agency, which seems likely. Next season is also the last year of LaMarcus’ Aldridge’s deal so a rebuild might be on the horizon.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

San Antonio did get a bit of help over the weekend when Memphis lost arguably its second-best player, forward Jaren Jackson Jr., for at least a few weeks to an injury. The Grizzlies currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. Portland, San Antonio, New Orleans, Phoenix and Sacramento are all grouped trying to catch the Grizz. Dallas holds down the seventh spot in the West and is all but a lock to make the playoffs.

This is the third meeting between the Spurs and Mavericks this season, with Dallas taking the first two at home back in the 2019 portion of the schedule. Prior to this season, the Spurs had won five in a row, 15 of the previous 17, and 29 of the previous 35 regular-season meetings. The Spurs have won four straight and 16 of the last 17 regular-season matchups in San Antonio.

Dallas has covered seven of the past 10 in this series. The over/under is 3-7 in those.

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas beat the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday 139-123. Luka Doncic had 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists after missing the previous game with right ankle soreness. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the team with 23 points, while Kristaps Porzingis had 15 points and nine rebounds after also missing the last game with a minor injury/rest. The Mavs had three reserves with at least 11 points. One of the usual key bench players, guard Jalen Brunson, didn’t play due to a right shoulder sprain and will miss at least five games. He averages 8.2 points and 3.3 assists in about 18 minutes per game. Dallas is 4-2 ATS in its past six.

San Antonio Spurs

Every year since 2003, the Spurs have been forced to take a long February road trip referred to as the “Rodeo Road Trip” necessitated by the AT&T Center hosting the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. The Spurs concluded that eight-game swing at 2-6 with Sunday’s 131-103 blowout loss in Oklahoma City. It was Oklahoma City’s largest margin of victory ever against San Antonio. The clearly gassed Spurs shot just 36.9 per cent. DeRozan had 11 points and Aldridge just eight.

That’s three games in a row under 20 points for DeRozan, who also had been dealing with some back spasms. He’s still one of only three players in the NBA averaging 20+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists while shooting over 50 per cent from the field (career-high 53 per cent). The Spurs are 2-5 ATS in their past seven.

Who Will Win Mavericks vs. Spurs?

Injuries

Dallas

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

Prob Sun Neck - 29 / 08 / 20

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Sun Hip - 26 / 08 / 20

Trey Burke (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 26 / 08 / 20

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Tues Hip - 25 / 08 / 20

Trey Burke (PG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 24 / 08 / 20

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

out for season Knee - 22 / 08 / 20

Trey Burke (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 22 / 08 / 20

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Prob Fri Heel - 20 / 08 / 20

Trey Burke (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 20 / 08 / 20

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Prob Wed Knee - 18 / 08 / 20

San Antonio

Patty Mills (PG)

Out Tues Rest - 11 / 08 / 20

Derrick White (PG)

Prob Tues Knee - 09 / 08 / 20

Tyler Zeller (C)

Out Thurs Knee - 07 / 08 / 20

Marco Belinelli (SG)

Prob Fri Foot - 31 / 07 / 20

Patty Mills (PG)

Ques Sun Undisclosed - 31 / 07 / 20

Bryn Forbes (SG)

Out indefinitely Quadricep - 30 / 07 / 20

Trey Lyles (PF)

out for season Appendix - 15 / 07 / 20

LaMarcus Aldridge (C)

out for season Shoulder - 08 / 06 / 20

Dejounte Murray (PG)

Out indefinitely Calf - 09 / 03 / 20

Lonnie Walker IV (SG)

Out indefinitely Shin - 07 / 03 / 20

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	Prob Sun	Neck - 29 / 08 / 20	0-0	0-0	+ -
Hardaway Jr. is hampered by a cervical strain, but he is expected to be active for Game 6 of the Western Conference first round versus the Clippers.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Sun	Hip - 26 / 08 / 20	1-1	2-0	+ -
Finney-Smith is tending to a left hip strain and right hip soreness. It is anticipated that he will be available for Game 6 of the Western Conference first round versus the Clippers.
Trey Burke (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 26 / 08 / 20	1-1	2-0	+ -
Burke is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but he is likely to face the Clippers in Game 6 of the Western Conference first round.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Tues	Hip - 25 / 08 / 20	1-1	2-0	+ -
Finney-Smith is bothered by a left hip strain and right hip soreness. It is anticipated that he will be active for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round versus the Clippers.
Trey Burke (PG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 24 / 08 / 20	1-1	2-0	+ -
Burke is expected to play in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round despite a left ankle sprain.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	out for season	Knee - 22 / 08 / 20	2-2	4-0	+ -
Porzingis is sidelined with a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the Western Conference first round.
Trey Burke (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 22 / 08 / 20	2-2	4-0	+ -
Burke is expected to suit up for Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Clippers despite a left ankle sprain.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Prob Fri	Heel - 20 / 08 / 20	2-3	4-1	+ -
Porzingis is likely to take on the Clippers in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round despite a left heel contusion.
Trey Burke (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 20 / 08 / 20	2-3	4-1	+ -
Burke is expected to suit up for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Clippers despite a left ankle sprain.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 18 / 08 / 20	2-4	4-2	+ -
Porzingis is nursing a sore right knee, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Clippers in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round.

San Antonio

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Patty Mills (PG)	Out Tues	Rest - 11 / 08 / 20	2-0	0-2	+ -
Mills will not play Tuesday against the Rockets due to a day of rest.
Derrick White (PG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 09 / 08 / 20	2-1	1-2	+ -
White exited the previous game with a left knee contusion, but he is expected to be available for Tuesdays clash with the Rockets.
Tyler Zeller (C)	Out Thurs	Knee - 07 / 08 / 20	2-2	2-2	+ -
Zeller has missed the previous three games due to a right knee bone contusion, and he will not play Thursday versus the Jazz.
Marco Belinelli (SG)	Prob Fri	Foot - 31 / 07 / 20	5-2	4-3	+ -
Belinelli has been held out of the previous three games with a left foot sprain, but he is expected to line up against the Jazz on Friday.
Patty Mills (PG)	Ques Sun	Undisclosed - 31 / 07 / 20	5-2	4-3	+ -
Mills missed the previous game while managing an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear if he will take part in Sunday's game against the Grizzlies.
Bryn Forbes (SG)	Out indefinitely	Quadricep - 30 / 07 / 20	5-2	4-3	+ -
Forbes is sidelined due to tightness in his right quad, and a timeline for return has yet to be established.
Trey Lyles (PF)	out for season	Appendix - 15 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Lyles is expected to miss the remainder of the season while recuperating from an appendectomy.
LaMarcus Aldridge (C)	out for season	Shoulder - 08 / 06 / 20	-	-	+ -
Aldridge had an arthroscopic procedure and a rotator cuff debridement conducted on his right shoulder. He is expected to sit out the remainder of the season.
Dejounte Murray (PG)	Out indefinitely	Calf - 09 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Murray will miss an extended period due to a right calf strain.
Lonnie Walker IV (SG)	Out indefinitely	Shin - 07 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Walker IV sat out the previous game with a left shin contusion, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.