The Dallas Mavericks (35-24) visit Salt Lake City Friday for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off with the Utah Jazz (36-22) at Vivint Arena. Below, we look at the Mavericks vs. Jazz odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
This could be a first-round playoff preview as Dallas sits 1½ games behind Utah for fourth place in the West.
The Mavs won six of their previous seven games entering the All-Star break – going 6-1 against the spread (ATS).
The Jazz had a 6-game win streak snapped (5-1 ATS) heading into the break after suffering a 106-101 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers Feb. 16.
Utah beat a PG Luka Doncic-less Dallas squad 120-116 at home Christmas Day but failed to cover as a 13.5-point favorite.
Also see: Bet Slippin’ Podcast: NBA February 25 breakdown
Mavericks at Jazz odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:05 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Mavericks +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Jazz -240 (bet $240 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Mavericks +5.5 (-108) | Jazz -5.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 216.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
Mavericks at Jazz key injuries
Mavericks
- SF Reggie Bullock (hip) questionable
- SF Tim Hardaway Jr. (foot) out
Jazz
- SF Rudy Gay (knee) doubtful
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Mavericks at Jazz odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Jazz 112, Mavericks 102
Money line
PASS.
I can only “lean” to Utah’s spread, so there’s no way I’d take the Jazz (-240). However, Utah has quietly gotten back to its dominant self this month after C Rudy Gobert and SG Donovan Mitchell returned from their injuries.
In February, the Jazz are 6-1 with the best adjusted net rating (plus-18.4) and 5-2 ATS with the second-best ATS margin (plus-7.9), according to CleaningTheGlass.com.
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Against the spread
BACK UTAH -5.5 (-112) for a three-fourths unit only because Dallas has been hit with a sharp-line move and a majority of the trends support the Mavs.
However, Dallas is becoming a public underdog since a vast majority of the action is on the Mavs, according to VegasInsider.com. My instinct is to fade public underdogs.
Also, Utah has been one of the most profitable regular-season teams in recent years but has regressed this season mostly due to injuries. I anticipate the Jazz will get it going for the final stretch of this regular season.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 216.5 (-107) for a tiny wager as I much prefer Utah’s spread.
Most of the action is on the Over, yet this total has ticked down from the 219.5-point look-ahead total, according to Pregame.com. It’s a red flag anytime we see this type of reverse-line movement.
Plus, the Under has cashed in three of the past four Mavericks-Jazz meetings.
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