The Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets will play in a Western Conference matchup on Friday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Mavericks-Nuggets prediction and pick.

The Mavericks and Nuggets will battle Friday in what will be a matchup between two MVP candidates. Nikola Jokic, the reigning MVP, will look move the Nuggets above .500 after a 2-2 start, while Luka Doncic will look to help extend the Mavericks winning streak to four games, with Dallas (3-1) having won three straight following their season opening loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Both players will look to lead their side to a win in what could end up being an important Western Conference matchup as the standings unfold down the road.

Here's how the bookmakers have set the Mavericks-Nuggets odds for this Friday matchup.

NBA Odds: Mavericks-Nuggets Odds

Dallas Mavericks +2 (-114), +108 ML

Denver Nuggets -2 (-108), -126 ML

Over 215.5 points (-110)

Under 215.5 points (-110)

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Why The Mavericks Can Cover The Spread

The Mavericks, led by Doncic, have won three straight games. While their last two wins (vs. the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets at home) may not seem all that impressive, winning is winning, and anyway you can find a way to win early in the season is a positive. Doncic is average 24 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game through four games, and seems to be rounding into his normal MVP-level form. One area for improvement is the turnover department, as Doncic is averaging 5.3 turnovers per game so far in 2021-22. Dallas is on the second night of a back-to-back, and is yet to submit their injury report as of Friday morning, however. They may not be the best bet playing their second game in as many nights in the Denver altitude, but the Nuggets have been up and down of late.

Why The Nuggets Can Cover The Spread

The Nuggets have clear rest edge here, as they have not played since Tuesday while Dallas played on Tuesday and Thursday. That could be big, in addition to it being a home game. Jokic is putting up crazy numbers so far this season, averaging 26.8 points per game on 67.7% shooting to go with 13.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He is however questionable on Friday, which is huge as he is as important to the Nuggets as any player is to any team in the NBA. If he is unable to go, this effects the game tremendously, so you will want to wait for the final injury report before making a play here.

Final Mavericks-Nuggets Prediction & Pick

Assuming Jokic is in, back the Nuggets to cover the spread at home.

FINAL MAVERICKS-NUGGETS PREDICTION & PICK: Nuggets -2 (-108)