Mavericks Try to Regain First-Half Momentum

Dallas (18-16 SU, 15-19 ATS) hopes to pick up where it left off before the all-star break when it resumes the season against in-state rival San Antonio (18-14, 18-14). The Mavs closed the first half of the season on a 10-3 SU spurt, although they’ve covered just six of their last 19 overall.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Dallas has covered just two of seven games this year when favored at home by 5 points or more, and early bettors didn’t trust the Mavericks to cover this one either. San Antonio had been bet down to 4.5-point underdogs by Tuesday night, while action on the OVER moved the total up to 222.5.

San Antonio News & Notes

The Spurs come out of the all-star break with their roster close to full strength, something they haven’t been able to say very often this year. Due to COVID-19 breakouts and injuries, San Antonio has played just two games this year with its top 10 players available and has already had five games postponed by pandemic complications.

That attrition appeared to catch up with the Spurs in their final game before the all-star break, when they committed 19 turnovers in a 107-102 loss to Oklahoma City — a game in which San Antonio was a 12-point home favorite. The Spurs were without LaMarcus Aldridge, Devin Vassell, Derrick White and Rudy Gay for that contest, but White and Gay are expected to return from COVID-19 quarantine Wednesday.

Aldridge is listed as questionable to return from an illness that forced him to sit out San Antonio’s final two games before the break. The seven-time all-star has been utilized off the bench recently as the Spurs have turned to a small-ball starting lineup featuring Jakob Poeltl at center.

Dallas News & Notes

While the Spurs badly needed the all-star break to recover from injuries and illnesses, the week off didn’t come at an ideal time for the Mavericks. Dallas had played its best basketball of the season in the weeks leading up to the break, going 10-3 SU over a 13-game stretch to recover from an 8-13 start to the season.

All of those straight-up wins haven’t done much to line the pockets of Dallas bettors, however. The Mavs are just 6-7 ATS during that 10-3 spurt, which came on the heels of an 0-6 SU and ATS skid. Dallas has also been a poor bet as home chalk, covering just three of its last 12 in that situation, and is 2-7 ATS in its last nine vs teams with winning records.

Luka Doncic sat out the Mavericks’ final game before the break with lower back tightness, but the 22-year-old superstar suited up in the all-star game and is expected to play against San Antonio. Doncic might benefit from some time off after scoring below his season average in three of his last five games and failing to record a double-double in five of his last seven.

Betting Pick: Spurs +4.5

Dallas has struggled to win by margin at home all year and shouldn’t have an easy time putting away the Spurs.