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The Dallas Mavericks play the fourth of their five-game road trip as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers. It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a Mavericks-76ers prediction and pick.
The Mavericks are coming off a 113-111 road win over the Brooklyn Nets. Luka Doncic leads the Mavs with 37 points on 14 for 26 shooting, including 5 for 12 from beyond the arc. Spencer Dinwiddie added 22 points while also nailing the game-winning shot on a pass from Doncic to sink his former team as time expired. It was his second game-winning shot in as many games. The 76ers are coming off a 118-114 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Joel Embiid had 35 points with 17 rebounds. He shot 13 for 19 and also contributed five assists on what was his 28th birthday. James Harden added 21 points and 11 assists to pace the 76ers. The 76ers are 7-3 over their last 10 games but have lost their last two home games.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Mavericks-76ers NBA odds:
NBA Odds: Mavericks-76ers Odds
Mavericks: +2 (-108)
76ers: -2 (-112)
Over: 217 (-110)
Under: 217 (-110)
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Why The Mavericks Could Cover The Spread/Win
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Dallas has been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since the start of the new year. Since December 31, 2021, they have gone 27-8. The Mavericks have done this despite losing one of their key players Tim Hardaway Jr. to a foot fracture on January 25. Doncic leads the team in all major categories as he is averaging 28.2 points per game. His rebounding is solid as he picks up 9.3 boards per game, while also sharing his passing skills generating 8.6 assists per game.
The Mavericks are 43-26 this season and tied with the Utah Jazz for the fourth seed in the Western Conference, which would give them home court for the first round of the playoffs. This is a vast improvement from last season when they only won 42 games. With 14 games left, the Mavericks have the opportunity to move up the standings.
They currently trail the Memphis Grizzlies by four and a half games in the division. While the fourth seed is the best bet, the Mavs could catch Memphis or even Golden State for the second or third seed. It all starts with Doncic. In this game, they will beat the 76ers if they can win the battle of the boards and prevent the 76ers from getting to the free-throw line. They need to replicate what they did in a February 4 win.
When these two teams met over a month ago, Doncic carried Dallas on his shoulders as he scored 33 points, added 13 rebounds, and sparked 15 assists for the win. It was a game in which Dallas was trailing Philadelphia at halftime, but managed to come back and win. In that game, the Mavs implemented a zone defense which helped them outscore the 76ers 54-35 in the second half, which helped them make the comeback. If they can formulate the defense needed to contain Embiid and the 76ers, they could cover and sweep the season series.
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread/Win
The 76ers have been inconsistent lately. They have alternated wins and losses over the last week, including two home losses in a row. As they sit a game behind Milwaukee for the second seed, they also are a game over Boston for the fourth seed. The Chicago Bulls are only a game and a half behind them currently occupying the fifth seed. For them to cover here, they need Embiid and Harden at their best.
Embiid leads the team in scoring averaging 29.9 points per game. He has also been a monster on the boards, pulling down 11.4 rebounds per game. Harden has been their distribution king, averaging 10.6 assists per game. These two also carry the load at the charity stripe and it reflected well in their most recent win.
In the win, Embiid went 8 for 10 from the free-throw line, sparking the 76ers as they shot 24 for 28 from the line. It is no secret that free throw shooting is their biggest strength as the 76ers lead the league in free-throw shooting percentage. Getting to the line is vital if the 76ers are to slow down the Mavericks and win this game. They have done well from beyond the arc this season too, ranking 10th in 3-point shooting percentage.
That was on display as they shot 37.5 percent from beyond the arc during their game in Cleveland. Embiid, Harden, and Tobias Harris need to nail their shots from the triples to give the 76ers the extra boost to cover the spread.
Final Mavericks-76ers Prediction and Pick
This could be the game of the day, especially considering both teams are fighting for playoff positioning. The Mavericks have been hot lately but are running into a 76ers team trying to create an identity as the season winds down. The 76ers will look to end their recent home slump and take down the Mavericks. Embiid and friends will make sure that happens.
Final Mavericks-76ers Prediction and Pick: 76ers -2 (-112)
