Mavericks vs Spurs odds
Tuesday, March 19th
8pm ET
league pass
| Mavericks odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| spread | over/under | money line |
|
-8.5 -112 |
231.5 -110o / -110u |
-335 |
| spurs odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| spread | over/under | money line |
|
+8.5 -108 |
231.5 -110o / -110u |
+270 |
Here's everything you need to know Mavericks vs. Spurs upon Tuesday, March 19th – our Expert predictions and betting picks For today's game.
The Dallas Mavericks will play six of their next seven games on the road, visiting the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
Dallas defeated the defending champion Denver Nuggets 107-105 on Kyrie Irving's buzzer-beating left hook at American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks won their fifth of six games and moved within a half-game of the Kings as the sixth seed in the West.
The Spurs defeated the Nets 122-115 in overtime, earning their 15th win of the season. I was on the right side of that decision because I felt it was the right situation and the game Spurs had to play.
Maybe the Spurs tend to relax after a rare win, but I doubt that will matter all that much with a hot Dallas team coming to town.
In this preview, we'll share why the Mavericks are favorites and sit in the best price range for bettors to take advantage of.
When a team starts playing a little bit better, I look at how the team has been doing lately to see where that progress is coming from. I'm especially interested in whether the team is playing better defense. Against these incredibly skilled athletes, defense tends to require more effort and dedication than offense.
The data shows the Mavericks are playing better defense. Over the past six games, they have a 110.3 fielding percentage, ranking 10th in the league during that span, according to NBA.com.
Looking at the Mavericks' overall defensive efficiency for the season, they are 21st in defense, allowing 116.7 points per 100 possessions.
We already know this Dallas team can score. That's natural. However, the defensive end of the floor is where you can really take your game to the next level.
It also helps that the Mavericks can field a lineup with both superstars on the court. According to GimmeTheDog, Irving and Luka Doncic have only played together in 40 of 68 games this season.
In these games, Dallas is 25-15 (62.5%) and the Mavericks are only 14-14 when one or both players don't play.
If both star players can stay healthy and Dallas continues to play better defense, the Mavericks could be a strong contender for the Western Conference playoffs.
A must-have app for NBA bettors
best nba betting scoreboard
Free picks from proven pros
Live win probability for bets
The Spurs are 33-32-3 against the under this season, but have the ninth-best total average (233.3), according to KillerSports. Their high average total doesn't reflect an offense that ranks 27th in efficiency at 109.7 points per 100 possessions.
These high totals are primarily due to the defense, or lack thereof, as San Antonio ranks 23rd in this category with a 117.0 rating.
Now, the Spurs must find a way to slow down a Dallas team that is one of the most talented in the league.
The Mavericks are the best in scoring and rank sixth in offensive efficiency with a value of 117.9. That mark is nearly one point per 100 possessions more than the Spurs have allowed this season.
Looking at the past three meetings between these two teams, the Mavericks have won by an average margin of 18.3 points.
Simply put, this Dallas team is a bad opponent for the Spurs — especially since the Mavericks are starting to step up their game defensively.
Mavericks vs Spurs
Betting picks and predictions
I always pay attention to post-game comments to get insight into the team's mindset. After the Mavericks' win over the Nuggets, Irving spoke at length about the importance of Dallas finishing the season in the top six of the conference.
“We're kind of competing for the No. 6 spot, but that's all in your head,” Irving told reporters. “And as a competitor, you want to play well. I felt like we lived up to that call for the majority of the game.”
If you're a Mavericks fan, you'll be happy to hear Irving speak candidly about that No. 6 spot, as it points to a clear goal of what the team is trying to accomplish this season.
As a result, I think the Mavericks will be focused on playing against a Spurs team that they have dominated this season. The Mavs are also on a 9-1 winning streak against the Spurs, covering the spread in five of their last six meetings.
I'm not a huge fan of putting points on roads, but this is one place where it makes a lot of sense.
Finally, Dallas was very reliable at this price point when it opened as a favorite, scoring between 8 and 10 points, with a closing spread between 8 and 12 points.
According to our Action Labs database, the Mavs are a perfect 4-0 against the spread in this spot.
After doing some research, BetRivers had the best price, with Dallas at -8 and odds of -112.
choose: Mavericks -8 (-112)
What do you think of this article?
