Luka Doncic is nearly unstoppable and his Mavericks are equally as dominant, going 9-1 SU and ATS in their last 10 games. They host a New Orleans team Saturday afternoon that has struggled mightily as of late, so bettors will likely want to side with the big-favorite Mavericks.
- Date/Time: December 7, 2pm ET
- Stadium: American Airlines Center
- TV Coverage: TSN 1, Fox Sports New Orleans, Fox Sports Southwest - Dallas
- Sportsbook Odds: Mavericks -9 | O/U 232.5
- New Orleans vs Dallas Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Dallas is playing great basketball right now, while New Orleans is in a major slump and has been dreadful on the road all season, so it’s easy to see why the Mavericks opened as big nine-point favorites at home. The total opened at 232.5, as these are two of the top seven offenses in the league… but the second-worst and a middle-of-the-pack defense.
New Orleans News & Notes
Having already missed the first six weeks of the season, the New Orleans Pelicans are hoping to have Zion Williamson back within the next two weeks… and could they ever use this year’s first-overall pick in the lineup.
Following their 139-132 overtime loss to Phoenix on Thursday, New Orleans has now lost seven straight games and sit at 6-16 on the season. In addition to Williamson, the Pelicans have also been without Derrick Favors, who will miss his 11th-straight game Saturday due to personal reasons. This leaves New Orleans with the struggling Jahlil Okafor and rookie Jaxson Hayes as their only low-post players.
The Pelicans haven’t had issues scoring, as they’re seventh in the league in scoring, but they’re the NBA’s second-worst defensive club — and it doesn’t get any easier Saturday against Luka Doncic and the Mavericks’ high-scoring offense.
Dallas News & Notes
It’s hard to fathom that Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic is only 20 years old. He’s in the midst of an incredible breakout campaign, leading Dallas with 30.3 points, 10.1 assists, 9.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game as he has leaped into the forefront of the MVP conversation.
He’s also, as expected by any superstar, really beaten up on the NBA’s weaker teams, as he’s averaging 32.4 points and 11.2 assists per game against teams that are below .500.
Doncic had an “off-game” Wednesday against Minnesota, scoring just 22 points with seven rebounds and six assists, but the 121-114 victory was Dallas’ ninth win in their last 10 games and marked his 17th straight game with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists.
He’ll look to continue that streak, and get back to his usual box score numbers, against a Pelicans team that allows the third-most points, assists and fourth-most rebounds per game to guards in the league.
Betting Pick: DALLAS -9
The Mavericks are hot right now, both ATS and SU, while the Pelicans are really struggling. Both teams continue their current trends Saturday as Dallas covers.
- New Orleans is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games.
- Dallas is 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 14 of Dallas' last 20 games.
