Recent Play Details

3% Take Dallas (#501)

None of the Mavericks played more than 28 minutes on the first night of back-2-backs; an ugly 21 point loss at the hands of the Pelicans. That leaves Dallas relatively fresh and certainly hungry as they step down in class this evening, facing off against the worst team in the NBA.

First and foremost, the Pelicans played their best game in weeks last night, a squad that’s getting healthier and they were in revenge for an ugly loss to Dallas in their previous game.  Second, here’s Jason Kidd’s quote; a ‘read between the lines’ quote that makes me think the Mavs are coming to play this evening: “It was a bad night all the way around. Our defense, our energy. The turnovers hurt us. It's hard when you turn it over in transition and you give up that many fastbreak points (46-12 Pelicans edge in fast break points). It's hard to guard."

The Mavs are 2-0 SU off a loss this season, including an 18 point win over the Clippers in their last try in this role.  They’ve won by double digits on the highway at Orlando, New Orleans and Memphis; capable of building and holding margins even in hostile environments.  Washington’s only win on any floor here in November came at bottom feeder Charlotte, and they’re coming off a particularly demoralizing defeat in the closing minutes at Toronto earlier in the week, blowing a 16 point fourth quarter lead.  I like Dallas off a bad loss here, whether Kyrie Irving (questionable) suits up or not.  Take the Mavericks.

Line Parameter: 3% at -6.5 or lower, 2% at -7 or higher