The Dallas Mavericks head up to the Big Apple to take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. This matchup features two very different teams that are both fighting for their playoff lives down the stretch. The formula for success couldn't be more different than it is between these clubs.Dallas has found success behind their elite offensive output and the Knicks have flown under the radar behind their league-leading defensive play. This will be their first head-to-head matchup in 2021. It’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Mavericks-Knicks prediction and pick.

Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Mavericks-Knicks odds.

NBA Odds: Mavericks-Knicks Odds

Dallas Mavericks -6 (-110)

New York Knicks +6 (-110)

Over 213.5 Points (-105)

Under 213.5 Points (-115)

Why The Mavericks Could Cover The Spread

The Dallas Mavericks are a force to be reckoned with out west. They are one of the best offensive teams in the league behind their superstar Luka Doncic. After starting out slow in 2021, Luka has flipped a switch and returned to his dominant form. In the recent victory against the Boston Celtics, Luka dropped 36 points on 7-11 shooting from deep. He also added eight rebounds and five assists. He has seen key contributions down the line from guys like Jalen Brunson and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Dallas has a lot of depth on this team and can score in many different ways. Their favorite way to score is definitely from beyond the arc, though. Doncic, Hardaway, and Kristaps Porzingis have collectively shot over 30% from deep since the All-Star break. The Mavs have been the third-best three-point shooting team during that stretch. Porzingis is definitely the X-factor for his club as the clear number two option. He has been up and down at times but turned in a solid outing against Boston with 19 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Dallas will look to score enough to defeat a Knick team that has averaged just 98.1 points per game over their last eight.

Why The Knicks Could Cover The Spread

The New York Knicks desperately need a good performance against the Mavericks to get their season back on track. The defense has been lights out all year, but the offense has been horrid of late. New York is hoping that a matchup against a below-average defensive team can get them out of this rut. Despite the struggles, New York continues to see promising performances from their two best players. In the recent loss to the Timberwolves, Julius Randle registered a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds and RJ Barrett added 23 points as well.

The Knicks' offensive struggles are a direct result of their lack of scoring depth. They have seen nice performances from guys like Elfrid Payton, Alec Burks, and Reggie Bullock in stretches, but the consistency on that end of the floor is clearly lacking. New York just has to find a way to create some sort of offensive production to help this league-leading defense. The Knicks are now allowing under 105 points per game and allows the lowest three-point shooting percentage in the NBA. They can shut anyone in the league down, especially on their home court. New York is 13-9-1 ATS at the Garden in 2021.

Final Mavericks-Knicks Prediction & Pick

Recent history may not support this pick, but the Knicks should cover this spread on their home court. Despite the recent struggles, let's roll with New York because of the fact that their success lies on the end of the floor that is more predictable. We know exactly what we will get every night from the Knicks defense. Dallas' below-average defense provides an opportunity for New York to find some offense as well. Go with the Knicks to cover this spread with a chance to win the game late.

FINAL PICK: New York Knicks +6 (-110)