The Dallas Mavericks will face the Utah Jazz in a battle of two of the best teams in the Western Conference. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Mavericks-Jazz prediction and pick.
This game could be the preview of a future playoff series. The Mavericks have earned a 35-24 record behind the stellar play of guard Luka Doncic. That record is good for the fifth seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. The Jazz are just ahead of them with a 36-22 record and the fourth seed. These teams are about as close as it gets, so this should be one of the best games of the night.
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Here are the Mavericks-Jazz NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Mavericks-Jazz Odds
Dalla Mavericks: +5.5 (-106)
Utah Jazz: -5.5 (-114)
Over: 218 (-110)
Under: 218 (-110)
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Why The Mavericks Could Cover The Spread
The Mavericks may have what it takes defensively to slow down the Jazz. Utah has been one of the best offenses in the league this year, but Dallas's defense is fantastic. They only allow 103 points per game while holding their opponents to some of the worst shooting efficiency numbers in the league. More importantly, the Mavs only give up a 33% three-point percentage to their opponents. The Jazz attempt the second-most threes per game in the league, so slowing down that element of their game would be huge.
While Utah has earned a better record than Dallas this season, the Mavericks have been the stronger team against the spread. Head coach Jason Kidd's team is 32-26-1 ATS on the year, with solid numbers in games like this one. Dallas has covered in 16 of 28 games they've played on the road while earning an 8-7 record when they enter the game as a road underdog.
Why The Jazz Could Cover The Spread
Despite their elite offense, the Jazz defense is what should give them an edge in this game. Utah has been an above-average defensive team, allowing 106 points per game and holding their opponents to a 45% shooting percentage. The Jazz have been similarly good at defending the three-point line, as other teams shoot just 34% from beyond the arc against them. Dallas does shoot plenty of threes, so defending the three will be a key point for both of these teams.
It's true that Dallas has been a great road team this season, but that doesn't mean Utah's achievements at home should be overlooked. The Jazz are 15-12 on the road and 21-10 in Vivint Arena. That's a huge difference in records, so the Jazz clearly love defending their home court. Dallas has a similar discrepancy in their home and away records, as their winning percentage drops from 64% at home to 53% on the road. The Jazz have a clear advantage on their home floor in this game.
Final Mavericks-Jazz Prediction & Pick
A case can be made for either of these teams, but neither is a particularly strong pick. Instead, the under is the best pick on the board. Both teams are incredibly strong defensively, so it's fair to expect this to be a low-scoring affair.
Final Mavericks-Jazz Prediction & Pick: Under: 218 (-110)
