It’s an exciting match-up between two teams on opposite ends of the Western Conference standings. The San Antonio Spurs, who have lost 14 straight games, will visit the Dallas Mavericks, who are currently in sixth place. Can the Spurs cover the spread against the Mavericks, who are expected to win by a large margin?
The Spurs
Despite their losing streak, the Spurs have a chance to cover the spread as they have a potent attack. Their offensive rebounding is critical, as they rank seventh in the league for offensive rebound percentage. This could be crucial against a questionable Dallas frontline. Forward Keldon Johnson has been excellent for the Spurs, scoring 21.8 points per game on average. He had a tonne of success against Dallas in December, scoring 30 points on 53% of his shots. Rookie Malaki Branham has also been impressive, scoring 19.5 PPG in his final four games before the break.
The Mavericks
Dallas is a highly effective offensive squad that has excellent long-range shooting. The Mavericks average the third-most threes per game and hit the 10th-highest percentage from long range. They are led by Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, one of the most intriguing duos in the league. Irving has been tremendous since joining the Mavericks, averaging 28.3 PPG in four games while shooting 53% overall and 43% from deep. Doncic leads the league in scoring with 33.3 PPG in addition to 8.8 RPG and 8.1 APG.
Prediction
While the Spurs have the potential to cover the spread, the Mavericks are the clear favorites. They have a potent offense and a solid defense, while the Spurs have the worst defense in the league. Dallas should start rolling after a much-needed break, so riding the home favorites is best.
We predict a final score of 120-105 in favor of the Mavericks.
