Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction: Home Woes for Brooklyn Continue
Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction: Home Woes for Brooklyn Continue
- When: 7:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: NBA TV
Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks Line Movement
Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction
It was a sight to behold.
Even if it did come against the Orlando Magic, Kyrie Irving putting up 60 points on 31 shots in 35 minutes last night may have been the most impressive display of scoring this season. He is arguably, as crosstown rival Evan Fournier tweeted after the game, the most skilled player ever.
But because of the COVID rules that exist in the city he calls his home, Irving will not be in uniform tonight for Brooklyn's matchup with the Dallas Mavericks, and the Nets will once again be playing at a disadvantage. It hasn't gone well for them recently in similar situations. Prior to their three-point home win against the Knicks on Sunday, Brooklyn had lost four straight in their own building, both outright and against the spread. On the year, they have by far the league's worst betting record at 6-25-1, which is half as many covers as the next lowest team. It is almost too bad to be real, but it is.
In come the Mavs, who are the league's third-best road team against the spread with 21 covers against 12 drops. Despite that record and Brooklyn's home issues, this is more or less a pick'em. The Mavs have won six of seven outright on the road, and they are playing arguably their best ball of the season. Brooklyn, meanwhile, will still be without former Mav Seth Curry.
Luka continues his push for homecourt advantage tonight. Go with the road team.
Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks Pick
- Mavs -1.5 (-110) (Bet $110 to Win $100)
New York Knicks vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction
- When: 7:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: League Pass
New York Knicks vs Portland Trail Blazers Line Movement
New York Knicks vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction
Their 3-6 record since the break doesn't show it, but the Knicks have been playing far better basketball of late. They have a positive 2.0 net rating in their last nine games and sport the 5th best defense in the NBA since All-Star weekend. That is not a sign of a team that has given up, even if New York sits a somewhat hopeless 5.5 games back of Charlotte in 10th and six games back of Atlanta in ninth.
Even so, we have to take the Knicks' recent strong play on its face. They continue to get double-digit leads in almost every game they play, and when their opponents aren't up to par (like the Grizzlies and Nets were, both of whom came back to beat New York in their last two games), the Knicks have managed to carry those big leads with them to the finish line.
The Blazers know fully well how to come back against Julius Randle & Co., rising from the dead to overcome a 23-point deficit in Portland last month. That was with Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic though, both of whom are now out and injured. The Knicks are also playing better ball, while the Blazers have by far the worst point differential in the NBA since the break.
Get 20/1 Odds on a 3-Pointer being scored in New York Knicks vs Portland Trail Blazers
Do the Knicks deserve the benefit of a double-digit line? Probably not. Does it change the fact that they're the right pick? Not at all. Go with the home team.
New York Knicks vs Portland Trail Blazers Pick
- Knicks -13.5 (+106) (Bet $100 to Win $106)
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