Thunder vs. Mavericks Prediction
Can the Oklahoma City Thunder go on the road and pick up a cover as a road favorite when they take on the Dallas Mavericks tonight at 7PM ET?
555 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 556 Dallas Mavericks
Sunday, December 30, 2018
7PM ET – American Airline Center
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Thunder are favored on the road, as they are getting odds of -3 points against the Mavericks. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 224.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 58 percent going on the Thunder on the road. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Thunder on long road trip
The Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off a 118-102 win at Phoenix on Friday. They have played four of their last five on the road, winning and covering the spread in three of them. OKC is 22-12 on the season, 10-8 on the road, 19-15 against the spread and 18-16 with the under.
The Thunder have been solid on defense, allowing just 105.7 points per game this year while holding opponents to 33.6 percent shooting from the arc. Offensively, OKC is putting up 112.1 points per game despite shooting just 32.7 percent from the arc. Russell Westbrook is averaging 21.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game to lead the team while Paul George is putting up 26.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest.
Mavs in a funk
The Mavericks are coming off a 114-112 loss at New Orleans on Friday and they have lost seven of their last eight games. Despite the losses, they have covered the spread in four straight games. The Mavericks are 16-18 on the season, 14-3 at home, 21-13 against the spread and 19-15 with the over.
Dallas is in the middle of the road on offense and defense this season. The offense is averaging 111 points per game while the defense is giving up 110.3 points per contest. Both guard Wesley Matthews (foot) and DeAndre Jordan (knee) are questionable to play in tonight’s game. Luka Doncic is averaging 19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game to lead the team while Harrison Barnes is adding 18.4 points per game.
NBA Betting Trends
Oklahoma City
The Thunder are 7-15 against the spread in their last 22 Sunday games and 2-5 ATS in their last seven games playing on 1 day of rest.
Dallas
The Mavericks are 20-8 against the spread in their last 28 home games and in four straight conference games.
Prediction:
The Mavericks have been very strong at home, but if Jordan is unable to play, that will create a lot of problems for Dallas. OKC is at its best when Russell Westbrook can attack the paint and Jordan is a big thorn in his ability to do that. With Westbrook on the attack, it opens things up for George and Steven Adams. I like Oklahoma City to be a little too powerful for the short-handed Mavericks tonight.
NBA Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder -3