The Dallas Mavericks (15-15) host the Milwaukee Bucks (19-13) Thursday for an 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off at the American Airlines Center. Below, we look at the Bucks vs. Mavericks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Milwaukee has lost three of the past four including back-to-back games at the New Orleans Pelicans Friday and vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday.
In the last 14 days, the Bucks are 3-4 straight-up (SU), 3-4 ATS and 2-5 O/U with the 15th-ranked non-garbage net rating (minus-2.5 points per 100 possessions), according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
Dallas broke a two-game losing skid by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-102 as 2-point home underdogs Tuesday.
The Mavs are 4-3 SU, 5-2 ATS and 2-5 O/U over the past two weeks with the seventh-best non-garbage time net rating (plus-5.8 points per 100 possessions), per CTG.
Bucks at Mavericks 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 11 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bucks -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Mavericks +133 (bet $100 to win $133)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks -3.5 (-112) | Mavericks +3.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 209.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Bucks at Mavericks key injuries
Bucks
- PF Giannis Antetokounmpo (health and safety protocols) out
- PF Bobby Portis (health and safety protocols) out
Mavericks
- PF Kristaps Porzingis (foot) questionable
- PG Luka Doncic (ankle/health and safety protocols) out
- SG Tim Hardaway Jr. (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Reggie Bullock (health and safety protocols) out
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Bucks at Mavericks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Bucks 107, Mavericks 101
Money line
PASS on the money line.
A team down a two-time MVP and on the road isn’t worth backing at -165. Similarly, the Mavericks haven’t generated much offense without Luka this season, so I don’t see much value in their +133 either.
Against the spread
BET on the BUCKS -3.5 (-112) as they’re the far healthier side and still have a few All-Stars set to take the court. The Mavericks’ top three creators are out, and the offensive burden will fall on Jalen Brunson.
The Bucks will have a defensive mastermind in Jrue Holiday in their backcourt. Middleton also returned from a three-game absence and put up 23 points. He’ll be a key difference here.
Milwaukee has a top-ten offensive and defense while the Mavs have neither. I’ll back Milwaukee to win by four or more here.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the UNDER 209.5 (-108) as I have no idea where the offense will come from for Dallas.
They did drop 114 behind 19 from Dorian Finney-Smith and 28 from Brunson. I expect a stronger defensive effort from Milwaukee than Minnesota showed. DFS also isn’t the most consistent scorer.
The Mavs play at the slowest pace in the NBA. With two elite defenders in the Milwaukee backcourt, I’d rather back the Under here.
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