NBA Best Bets for Thursday: Sixers vs. Mavericks odds, picks, predictions
In the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader on TNT, the Sixers will continue their five-game road trip against the Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. ET. This is the first meeting between the two teams this month as they will play again in Philadelphia on March 29th. The Sixers (40-21) go into tonight’s game as the third-ranked players in the Eastern Conference. The Mavericks (32-31) are currently in the play-in tournament as the seventh seedling when the season ends today. Dallas can still gain ground in the West, however, as they are just two games behind the Suns for the No. 4.
Philadelphia pulled off an impressive 119-96 win over the Heat on Wednesday after losing to Miami 101-99 at the Wells Fargo Center on Monday night. The Sixers didn’t have all-star center Joel Embiid (left foot) on the ground, but that didn’t matter as Tyrese Maxey; and James Harden combined for 50 points, 8 of 16 shots from threes, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Philadelphia also got an excellent performance from Paul Reed, who had 16 points and 14 rebounds.
As for the Mavericks, they’ve lost four of their last five games and two straight contests before tonight’s matchup. Dallas lost 124-122 to Indiana on Tuesday night despite Luka Doncic recording 39 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Kyrie Irving, who took the last shot for the Mavs, scored 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field and 0-4 from three-point range. Irving is hoping for a better game tonight against a Sixers team he’s averaging 26.5 and 6.0 assists per game this season (two games) against.
Can the Sixers carry the momentum from Wednesday’s win over the Heat into tonight’s game against Luka and Kyrie? Or will the Mavs be up to the task as they attempt to stay out of the West play-in tournament? Below we will break down this competition while giving our prediction and best bets for bettors looking for a little payday.
Sixers vs. Mavericks odds, tips, predictions
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
- spread: Philadelphia +3.5 (-105); Dallas -3.5 (-110)
- About Below: 228.5
- money line: Sixes +150; Portland-125
The Sixers are brief underdogs for tonight’s game due to the uncertainty surrounding Embiid. The All-Star Center had the night off against the Heat as the Sixers received input from everyone in their blowout on Wednesday. Surprisingly, the Sixers are 9-4 this season without Embiid. However, the team would like Embiid for tonight’s game as he should dominate the Mavericks’ frontcourt, who have recorded 50.7 points in the paint per game (18th in the NBA) and 59.7 points in the paint per game this season over leaves past three games. Philadelphia is 14-13 against the spread on the road and 5-6 ATS as a road underdog this season.
The Sixers are also 5-2-1 ATS without a break, which is good for bettors thinking about putting the points with Philly. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have been one of the best teams at home this season with a 20-10 record, but that hasn’t boded well for the dispersion as Dallas is 10-19-3 ATS — the second-worst coverage ratio in the NBA behind the Heat (8-20-2). Finally, Doncic and co. are 9-18-2 ATS as home favorites, which is another excellent sign for bettors looking to take on the Sixers.
When Embiid isn’t playing, we take the Mavericks to cover that small number. While ATS Trends don’t support Dallas, they still have two dynamic scorers in Doncic and Irving who can take over a game at any time. Dallas has lost its last two games by just five points.
However, if Embiid plays – which seems a little more likely at the moment – take the Sixers straight to the money line. Dallas doesn’t have the depth at center to rival the All-Star, and if he can establish himself in paint it will do wonders for Harden and Maxey, who are beginning to turn a corner. Philly will also need their bench to show up, as the Mavericks have three guys to score in bundles in Christian Wood, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Josh Green.
Best bid: Dallas -3.5 (when Embiid is not playing)
Best Player Prop Bet for Sixers vs. Mavericks: Kyrie Irving OVER 4.5 rebounds (+100)
If you’re looking for a plus money player prop bet for today’s matchup, look no further than Irving’s rebound total. He’s put in a solid job on the boards this season, averaging 5.1 per game between his stints in Brooklyn and Dallas. In his first seven games with the Mavericks, Irving happens to be averaging 5.1 rebounds per game and has OVER 4.5 rebounds four times. We also like Irving’s rebounds and assist prop, which sit at 10.5 (+100). The all-star point guard has exceeded that number in five out of seven games.