Nets vs. Mavericks Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
Brooklyn is headed to Dallas on Thursday night as they look to get back in the win column after back-to-back losses in Milwaukee earlier this week. The Mavericks, on the other hand, have won three of their last four games, including a 127-113 win in Miami on Tuesday.
The Nets opened as 4-point favourites to win on the NBA odds with a total of 233.5.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The only other meeting between these teams this season ended in a 115-98 Mavericks win in Brooklyn on Feb. 27. Luka Doncic led Dallas with 27 points, while the Nets were without stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Brooklyn’s only been fair on the road this year. The Nets have an 18-15 record outside of the Barclays Center and they’ve lost four of their last seven road games. They’re an even 33-33 against the spread overall and they’ve covered in four of their last five games against Soutwest Division opponents. The total has gone Under in four of Brooklyn’s last five games.
The Mavericks have been hot lately, winning four of their last five games overall as well as four of their last five games at home. They’re 31-34 ATS and have covered in four of their last five games as an underdog. Dallas has hit the Over in four of their last five games.
Brooklyn Nets
Back-to-back losses to Milwaukee, one of the Eastern Conferences other powerhouse teams, is worrying if you’re a Nets fan. Brooklyn’s lack of depth outside of their big three (Durant, Irving and James Harden) was exposed by the Bucks. With no timetable for Harden’s return, the Nets will need more out of players like Joe Harris and Jeff Green. Irving had a game-high 38 points in the second Bucks game on Tuesday, while Durant put up 32 points, but Harris and Green only combined for 22 total points. Despite producing big performances recently, Durant’s shooting numbers have actually dipped a little below his average. Outside of this game, the Nets have a fairly easy schedule to finish the season, but if they want to lock up the No. 1 seed in the East, they’re going to need a better effort from everyone on the roster.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs have won four of their last five games and as they currently sit fifth in the Western Conference standings, they look poised to avoid the play-in tournament altogether. They’ve been getting big performances from throughout the roster. With Kristaps Porzingis set to miss his fourth straight game with a knee soreness, players like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson will need to continue to step up. Hardaway Jr. had a game-high 36 points on Tuesday, while Brunson finished with 19 points in just 18 minutes of action.
Doncic continues to make a case for the MVP award. The Mavs’ leading scorer is averaging over 30 points a night through his last four games, while continuing to move the ball at an elite level. He has a shooting efficiency of almost 59 per cent and he became the first Dallas player to record a 20-assist triple-double, when he finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds and 20 assists in a win over Washington on Saturday.
BK
DAL