The Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks open up their 2021-22 seasons with a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off at State Farm Arena in Atlanta Thursday. Below, we look at the Mavericks vs. Hawks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Dallas blew a 2-0 lead in its Western Conference first-round playoff series as it lost in seven games to the Los Angeles Clippers last year. The Mavs finished last season 45-34 overall, 38-41 against the spread (ATS) and 37-42 Over/Under (O/U), including the postseason.
Atlanta fans are hoping their team’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season is a sign of things to come. The Hawks were 51-39 overall, 49-40-1 ATS 39-49-2 O/U last season (including the playoffs).
The Hawks lost in six games in the conference finals to the champion Milwaukee Bucks after beating the New York Knicks in the first round and upsetting the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Mavericks won both regular-season meetings against the Hawks last year but Atlanta covered the second game as a 3.5-point road underdog in a 118-117 loss.
Guards Luka Doncic and Trae Young were traded for each other on the night of the 2018 NBA Draft. They’ve played four times thus far and the Mavs are 3-1 in those games.
Mavericks at Hawks odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:25 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Mavericks +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Hawks -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Mavericks +2.5 (-108) | Hawks -2.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 224.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Mavericks at Hawks key injuries
Mavericks
- None.
Hawks
- SF Danilo Gallinari (shoulder) questionable
- SG Lou Williams (hip) questionable
- C Onyeka Okongwu (shoulder) out
- PF Jalen Johnson (ankle) probable
Mavericks at Hawks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Hawks 113, Mavericks 108
Money line
BET the HAWKS (-140) for 1 unit because they have a deeper roster and we have to see how the Mavericks look under first-year head coach Jason Kidd.
Dallas is very reliant on Doncic and I have little confidence the Mavs can win if he’s not the best player on the floor. While Luka is the best player on the floor in this game the next six best players are on Atlanta’s roster.
The Hawks were 29-13 overall as a favorite and 21-5 overall as a home favorite last season (including the playoffs) despite changing coaches in the middle of the season.
I’m higher on Atlanta’s roster, continuity and coaching staff than Dallas’s so I’m willing to spend a little more for the HAWKS (-140) outright.
Against the spread
PASS with a slight “lean” to the Hawks -2.5 (-112) only because I’d prefer to lay it with Atlanta’s money line than bet the spread.
I could understand playing the spread instead if you felt the Hawks (-140) straight-up is a little too pricey. However, Atlanta is the correct side and the best option is the money line.
Over/Under
BET the UNDER 224.5 (-108) for 1 unit despite the Mavericks-Hawks total being kind of low considering these teams combined for 235 and 238 points in their two regular-season meetings last year.
Dallas was 5-14 O/U as a road underdog in 2020-21 and Atlanta was 8-17-1 O/U as a home favorite with a minus-7.2 total margin.
More than 95% of the money at the time of publishing is on the Over but the total hasn’t really budged from the opener.
Granted, it’s early in the betting day and if that money keeps pouring in on the Over the House will adjust. However, it would appear as though oddsmakers are comfy with the total they set for the Mavericks-Hawks.
Let’s fade the market and BET UNDER 224.5 (-108).
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