The Dallas Mavericks (8-9) play a road game against the Utah Jazz (13-4) Wednesday at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Mavericks-Jazz NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
It’s been a bumpy couple of weeks for the Mavericks, who’ve dealt with their fair share of COVID-related absences. Dallas is just 2-5 overall and 3-4 against the spread over its last seven games.
The Mavericks’ defense has fallen off in these games mostly because a lot of their frontcourt has been out. They rank 27th in defensive rating and 25th in opponent’s points in the paint since Jan. 15.
Utah has been playing on the opposite side of the spectrum, winning nine in a row and covering all nine. The Jazz are one of the best shooting teams in the league—fourth in effective field-goal percentage—and the best rebounding team. However, Utah will be without leading-scorer SG Donovan Mitchell, who’s out after being placed in concussion protocol.
The only meeting of the three the Mavericks beat the Jazz in last season was during the restart in the Orlando bubble, which coincidently Mitchell also missed.
Mavericks at Jazz: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Mavericks +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | Jazz -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Mavericks +2.5 (-120) | Jazz -2.5 (+100)
- Over/Under: 219.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Mavericks at Jazz: Key Injuries
Mavericks
- SF Dorian Finney-Smith (health and safety protocols) questionable
- PF Maxi Kleber (health and safety protocols) out
- C Dwight Powell (health and safety protocols) questionable
- SG Josh Richardson (health and safety protocols) questionable
Jazz
- SG Donovan Mitchell (concussion) out
Special NBA Betting Promotion!
Place a $1 bet on either team’s money line, WIN an additional $100 (in free bets) if either team hits a 3-pointer during the game today. Promotion available in CO, IN, MI, NJ, TN, VA and WV. IA and PA residents, don’t miss BetMGM‘s risk-free, first-bet offer!
Place your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!
Mavericks at Jazz: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Mavericks 111, Jazz 104
Money line (ML)
This is very dependent on the final injury report but I like MAVERICKS (+115) for 1 unit in this spot.
While the Jazz are one of if not the most balanced offense in the Association, Mitchell is 11th in usage rate and he is Utah’s go-to guy for when the offense struggles. Three of the Jazz’s starters have a higher effective field-goal percentage and PG Mike Conley leads the team in offensive win shares, but all that is made possible by Mitchell absorbing a majority of the opponent’s attention.
Circling back to why the final injury report matters a lot is because the Mavericks could get back three of their best defenders. That should tip the balance in their favor against a Mitchell-less Jazz.
Against the spread (ATS)
PASS. The Mavericks +2.5 (-110) isn’t worth the insurance and I’d rather just play the +115 money line for an outright Dallas win.
Over/Under (O/U)
Prior to a bunch of Mavericks missing time because of COVID-19, Dallas was playing better on the defensive end of the floor than offensive. Mitchell’s absence figures to hurt Utah’s prolific offense and the Mavericks should begin to return to their previous defensive form (pending the injury report).
Furthermore, this is a Pros vs. Joes situation in the betting market. More than 80% of the money is on the Under, but 60% of the bets placed are on the Over, according to Pregame.com. Typically, the sharp side is the money column and the tickets column represents the average joe.
I’ll TAKE UNDER 219.5 (-110) for a half-unit.
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Also see:
- NBA Power Rankings: Jazz jiving along behind play of Mitchell (Rookie Wire)
- Hoops Hype rumors: Mavericks | Jazz
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]