The New Orleans Pelicans will face the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference battle. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Pelicans-Mavericks prediction and pick.
Both of these teams have had their struggles so far, but the Pelicans have struggled more than the vast majority of the NBA. New Orleans is currently 6-18 on the season, a record that makes them the second-worst team in the West. Things will improve when forward Zion Williamson returns to action, but things look bleak until then, though at least the Pelicans have been a bit more competitive lately.
The Mavericks haven't been nearly as bad, but they've also been disappointing. There were high expectations for Luka Doncic and company as they entered the season, but they've only managed to earn an 11-9 record so far and have often look outclassed against the best competition. Surprisingly, that record is good enough for the fourth seed in the West, but only for now.
Here are the odds for the Pelicans-Mavericks game, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Pelicans-Mavericks Odds
New Orleans Pelicans: +6.5 (-110)
Dallas Mavericks: -6.5 (-110)
Over: 215.5 (-110)
Under: 215.5 (-110)
Watch NBA Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)
Why the Pelicans Can Cover the Spread
Despite their winning record, the Mavericks don't do anything particularly well. They rank in the bottom half of the league in points per game, and all of their defensive numbers show that they're mediocre at best on that side of the ball. The Dallas offense will be further slowed by the absence of starting power forward Kristaps Porzingis, who is currently doubtful for this matchup because of a knee injury. This Mavericks team isn't as good as everyone thinks, and there's a chance the Pelicans can take advantage of that for a cover.
While they have a winning record where it counts, Dallas hasn't been great when it comes to covering the spread. Head coach Rick Carlisle's team is currently a subpar 9-11 ATS on the year. To make matters even better for the Pelicans, the Mavericks are 3-5 against the spread when they enter the game as home favorites. This is a spot that Dallas doesn't typically cover in.
Why the Mavericks Can Cover the Spread
There is a clear discrepancy in talent between these two teams. There's a reason New Orleans has an abysmal record and the Mavs don't. These two teams played on Wednesday, and it was a total laugher as the Mavericks won by an insane 32 points. Dallas also played the Pelicans in early November, a game that ended in a Mavs win and cover. Porzingis did play in both of those games, but Dallas is more than capable of covering a single-digit spread against one of the worst teams in the league without him.
It's hard to find something that the Pelicans do well. They're one of the worst scoring teams in the NBA, and their defense is equally poor. In the two games that these teams have played so far, the Mavs dropped a combined 247 points. The Pelicans are completely incapable of stopping anyone, including this Dallas offense that is led by one of the best playmakers in the league in Doncic. There's no need to overthink things here.
Final Pelicans-Mavericks Prediction & Pick:
This is an easy pick. It's surprising to see Dallas as single-digit favorites, even when accounting for the absence of Porzingis. Lock in the Mavericks with confidence.
Final Pelicans-Mavericks Pick: Dallas Mavericks -6.5 (-110)
Follow Us
Subscribe