Kristaps Porzingis's latest return to Gotham will dominate the storylines ahead of Friday's meeting between the Dallas Mavericks and host New York Knicks – but the bigger story is the home team's need for a win. The Knicks (24-24 SU, 27-20-1 ATS) have dropped two in a row and are sizeable home underdogs for their latest encounter with the Mavericks (25-21 SU, 22-24 ATS).
- Date/Time: April 2, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: Madison Square Garden
- TV Coverage: NBATV
- Sportsbook Odds: Mavericks -5.5 | O/U 214.5 (Line History)
- Mavericks vs Knicks Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The odds opened with the Mavericks as 5.5-point favorites, and that line has held steady. The total, on the other hand, has dipped one point after Sportsbook at 214.5.
Dallas News & Notes
Porzingis is still viewed by many New York hoops fans as a villain; he was traded over two years ago after management deemed that he didn't want to be with the Knicks for the long run. The fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft is thriving in his second second on the court in Dallas, averaging 20.4 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting a career-best 47.8 percent from the field.
The other focal point for bettors: Dallas's gradually improving defense. The Mavericks enter Friday ranked 13th in points against per game (111.1) but have held opponents below 110 points in each of their previous eight victories. They've also limited opponents to an average of 105.2 points in their last five road games, going an impressive 4-1 SU over that stretch.
New York News & Notes
The Knicks themselves can't be too broken up about the fallout from the Porzingis trade. While the pieces they received in return haven't lived up to their potential, the money the team saved was used to sign fellow power forward Julius Randle, who is having a sensational season with averages of 23.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists (not to mention an All-Star appearance).
The Randle-Porzingis matchup be must-see TV – and how this duel is decided will go a long way toward determining which team pulls out the win. The pressure might be even greater for Randle than usual, with point guard Derrick Rose (ankle) and small forward R.J. Barrett (ankle) both questionable. The duo combine to average more than 30 points and 7.4 assists.
Betting Pick: UNDER 213.5
This game has all the makings of a classic Knicks slog – and that will likely suit both teams just fine. Look for this one to be a race to 100 points.
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Buy Sports Picks Now- Dallas is 3-6 ATS in its last nine games against New York.
- The UNDER is 7-1 in the Knicks' last eight games.
- The UNDER is 13-5 in the Mavericks' previous 18 outings.
