Raptors vs. Mavericks Pick
Will the Toronto Raptors extend their win streak to seven games tonight when they play the host Dallas Mavericks at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Raptors are listed as a 6-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 210 points.
Toronto comes in with a 23-8 record and 19-12 ATS after a 102-86 home win over the 76ers, its sixth straight victory. Dallas is 9-25 overall and 15-18-1 ATS following a 112-107 loss at the Hawks. The Raptors went 2-0 straight up and 2-0 ATS in two meetings last season. The under went 2-0.
In the win over Philadelphia, DeMar DeRozan highlighted the effort with 29 points along with five rebounds and two assists. Serge Ibaka registered 17 points and six boards. Delon Wright added 14 points and three steals off the bench. Toronto outscored the Sixers a combined 54-36 over the second and third quarters.
Harrison Barnes paced the Mavericks with 22 points, four rebounds and three assists in the loss at Atlanta. Dirk Nowitzki tallied 18 points, six boards and four assists. JJ Barea added 15 points, 12 assists, three steals and two rebounds off the bench. Dallas was outscored 64-54 in the second half.
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Dallas. The under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings.
Toronto is on cruise control and a huge reason why is DeRozan, who is the clear No. 1 option on offense over point guard Kyle Lowry. But the duo works in tandem so well that loading up your defense to slow down DeRozan will only lead Lowry to search for his own offense more and to set up other scorers. Dallas might be a tough matchup, however, as seven of its nine wins are at home and it can effectively slow the pace. Expect the Raptors to come out slow the day after Christmas on the road and fail to cover the spread.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: DALLAS MAVERICKS +6