Playing their second game in as many nights, Stephen Curry and the Warriors face the Mavericks in Dallas tonight. The odds aren't in Golden State's favor, but can they still cover?
Warriors vs. Mavericks
Odds Overview
After opening at 5.5, the spread betting line hasn't seen
much movement overnight. Some NBA odds sites have the Mavericks favored by
six, but that's about as high as it goes.
Coming in, Dallas is at 28-21 ATS and Golden State has
recorded a 27-22-1 ATS mark. Meanwhile, the total for tonight's matchup can be locked
down at either 209.5 or 210.
Golden State Warriors
This road trip has been tough for the Warriors. They've lost
all three games (@HOU, @OKC, @MEM) and have failed to cover the spread in any
of the defeats.
Last night they gave it everything they had against the
Grizzlies, but fell short 99-93. Stephen Curry put up some gaudy numbers
despite the loss, pouring in 32 points on 11-of-22 shooting and adding eight
assists, five rebounds and three steals. He only turned the ball over once.
David Lee also had a nice game (26 points and six boards),
but no other Warrior reached double figures. Klay Thompson had almost as many
turnovers (six) as he did points (nine), and Harrison Barnes (2-of-8 FG) also
had an off night.
It didn't help that Jarrett Jack was out again with an
injured right shoulder. Jack missed his second straight game and it was clear
Golden State missed his playmaking ability.
The veteran guard is listed as doubtful to play tonight,
while Andrew Bogut is set to sit out as well. That means more minutes for the
likes of Andris Biedrins, Festus Ezeli and Carl Landry.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks started off a lengthy home-stand with a 105-99
win over Portland three days ago and in turn covered the NBA betting lines as
the 5.5-point favorites.
On a night in which Dirk Nowitzki was having a hard time
finding his shooting stroke – he connected on just 7-of-19 from the floor –
O.J. Mayo decided to take matters into his own hands. He netted 28 points
(11-of-14 FG) to go along with five assists and four rebounds.
Meanwhile, Shawn Marion logged a 13-point/10-rebound
double-double, and Vince Carter, Elton Brand and Rodrigue Beaubois combined to
score 33 points off the bench for Dallas.
Though the Mavericks are still seven games below .500, few teams
have been as profitable against the spread. They've covered in five of their
last six and are an impressive 12-2 ATS over their previous 14 games overall.
Rick Carlisle's team has been cashing tickets at an
excellent rate at home as well, with Dallas at 6-1 ATS in their past seven
matchups inside American Airlines Center.
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Though the Warriors have won both meetings this season, each
game was close. They won 105-101 in overtime in November and then held on to
beat Dallas 100-97 close to 10 days ago.
Is tonight the night when the Mavericks finally get on the
winning side?
We think so. Dallas catches Golden State playing their
fourth game in five nights, meaning fatigue could be an issue for the road team
here. Curry and Lee both played close to 40 minutes last night, while Thompson
and Harrison Barnes both neared 35.
This team desperately misses Jack out there – they don't
look nearly as cohesive on either end of the floor, especially offensively.
Therefore tonight we see the Warriors, who are 2-5 ATS in their last seven road
contests, falling short against a well-rested Dallas team that's trying to make
up a lot of ground in the Western Conference.
Free NBA Picks: Dallas Mavericks -5.5