Mavericks vs. Spurs Prediction
Following their loss last night to the Rockets, will the Spurs struggle to cover the spread as a sizable home favorite tonight against the Mavericks at 8:30 p.m. ET?
Who Oddsmakers Like: San Antonio. According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Spurs are 8-point home favorites versus the Mavericks, who opened as 9.5-point road underdogs. The total, meanwhile, sits at 198 points after hitting the board at 197.
Who Public Bettors Like: As of Saturday morning, 58% of betting tickets are on the Spurs but over 80% of the money is on Dallas. That said, these numbers are subject to change throughout the day.
Injury Report: Dennis Smith Jr. (hip), Nerlens Noel (thumb), Seth Curry (shin) and Dorian Finney-Smith (knee) are all out for the Mavericks. On the other side, Kawhi Leonard (rest), Tony Parker (rest) and Kyle Anderson (MCL) are all out for the Spurs.
Who We Like: Dallas. The underdog has covered the spread in 22 of the last 28 meetings between these two teams. The Mavericks are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games versus the Spurs and have covered in four of their last five games in San Antonio.
The Mavericks are also 5-1-1 at the betting window in their last seven games overall, are 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six road games, and are 4-1-1 against the number in their last six games playing on one day of rest.
The Spurs, who played like horse crap against the Rockets last night, are just 2-5-1 against the spread in their last eight conference games and, because they have an older roster, are a dismal 3-9 against the spread in their last 12 games playing on zero rest.
SATURDAY NBA PREDICTION: DALLAS MAVERICKS +8