Tag: Dallas Mavericks vs. Detroit Pistons predictions pick betting line spread

The Dallas Mavericks (49-30) head to Motor City Wednesday to play the Detroit Pistons (23-56) at the Little Caesars Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Mavericks vs. Pistons odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

Dallas is 6-2 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in the last 8 games with the most recent being a 118-112 upset win as a 6.5-point road underdog at the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday.

Detroit has won 3 straight following a 3-game losing skid. The Pistons are 5-1 ATS over that span. Their last 3 victories have been against the Philadelphia 76ers (Thursday), Oklahoma City Thunder (Friday) and Indiana Pacers (Sunday).

The Mavs crushed the Pistons 116-86 in Dallas Feb. 8 in their first head-to-head meeting this season and own a 4-game win streak against Detroit.

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Mavericks at Pistons 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 2:55 p.m. ET.

• Money line (ML): Mavericks -400 (bet $400 to win $100) | Pistons +300 (bet $100 to win $300)
• Against the spread: Mavericks -8.5 (-110) | Pistons +8.5 (-110)
• Over/Under: 218.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)

Mavericks at Pistons key injuries

Mavericks

• PF Max Kleber (ankle) out

Pistons

• PF Marvin Bagley III (hip) out
• SF Jerami Grant (calf) out
• PG Cory Joseph (back) out
• G Rodney McGruder (hip) out
• PF Kelly Olynyk (rest) out

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Mavericks at Pistons odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Mavericks 115, Pistons 102

Money line

PASS.

I’m on the Mavericks covering the spread but Dallas (-400) is way too expensive for any NBA regular-season favorite. Detroit (+300) actually has a better adjusted net rating over the past two weeks than Dallas, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).

But the Mavs are 14-4 SU as road favorites and the Pistons are 11-22 SU as home underdogs.

I’m anticipating Dallas being motivated here and Detroit is missing four key contributors.

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Against the spread

BET MAVERICKS -8.5 (-110) because Dallas All-Star PG Luka Doncic will be motivated to get on the MVP ballot and ball out versus No. 1 overall pick, Detroit PG Cade Cunningham. 

Since the All-Star break, Luka has been sensational, averaging 30.2 points on 60.4% true shooting (.474/.389/.774), 9.0 rebounds and 7.9 assists with a plus-11 net rating. Cunningham has played very well, but Luka will make a statement Wednesday.

The Mavs may want to finish the regular season strong after a slow start under first-year head Jason Kidd. Dallas is still jostling for playoff seeding and should be motivated to make the playoffs as the No. 3 seed out West.

Plus, Dallas’ newly acquired role players PG Spencer Dinwiddie and SF Davis Bertans have given the Mavs good minutes and can feast on Detroit’s depleted second-unit. Dinwiddie and Bertans should be giving 110% effort to earn playoff rotation minutes.

Finally, this feels like a trap line for the Pistons, who have played very well lately. Most semi-casual NBA bettors will look at Detroit’s recent impressive ATS trends and think “well, Pistons +8.5 is too many points.”

To be honest, I sort of do too, but plug your nose and BET MAVERICKS -8.5 (-110).

Over/Under

PASS.

This is a sharp total and there’s no value here based on my numbers.

For what it’s worth, Dallas is 29-48-2 O/U but 9-8-1 O/U as a road favorite, while Detroit is 38-39-2 O/U and 13-19-1 O/U as a home underdog.

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