The Golden State Warriors will face the Dallas Mavericks 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 Warriors-Mavericks prediction and pick.
This game has the potential to be one of the most exciting of the season. The Warriors have been completely dominant throughout the entire season, earning a 43-19 record behind fantastic play from superstar point guard Stephen Curry. The Mavericks have their own superstar guard in Luka Doncic who's led them to a 37-25 record and the fifth seed in the West. The last time these teams faced, Dallas managed to scratch out a win in the Bay Area. Expect the Warriors to try and avenge that loss in this hugely important contest.
Here are the Warriors-Mavericks NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Warriors-Mavericks Odds
Golden State Warriors: +2 (-110)
Dallas Mavericks: -2 (-110)
Over: 220 (-110)
Under: 220 (-110)
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Why The Warriors Could Cover The Spread
Golden State's elite defense could be the difference in this matchup. The Warriors only give up 104 points per game, one of the lowest numbers in the NBA. They also hold their opponents to 50% shooting from inside the arc, one of the most important stats in this matchup. Dallas shoots a ton of shots inside the arc, so Golden State's ability to slow that element of offense down will be huge. The Warriors have been great at limiting the number of possessions their opponents get, which should help against a Dallas team that doesn't shoot that many threes.
Article Continues BelowIt's shocking to see the Warriors enter this game as underdogs. They're essentially fully healthy, as shooting guard Klay Thompson has said he expects to play. They are on the road, but they've gone 17-12 away from home this season. This is one of the strangest lines of the season. If anything, the Warriors should be favored by a couple of points.
Why The Mavericks Could Cover The Spread
Much like the Warriors, the Mavericks will count on their defense to win them this game. The last time these teams played, Dallas held Golden State to 101 points in a win. The Warriors only had one player score more than 20 points in that contest. While it's unlikely that the Mavericks are able to replicate that performance, it shows that they are certainly capable of taking over this game on the defensive end.
Dallas has been a much better team at home than on the road this season. Head coach Jason Kidd's squad is 20-11 at home and 17-14 on the road. The Mavs' home record improves to 7-3 in their last ten contests in American Airlines Center. Dallas is also 16-14-1 against the spread on their home floor. The Warriors have been a great team at covering the spread, but they're only 13-14-2 ATS on the road. A cover is certainly a possibility for the Mavs here.
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Final Warriors-Mavericks Prediction & Pick
This game is essentially a tossup, which makes the Warriors the right pick. Two points is too big of a spread for a fully healthy Golden State team, even if they are on the road. Lock in the Warriors and don't look back.
Final Warriors-Mavericks Pick: Golden State Warriors: +2 (-110)