The Dallas Mavericks appeared to be catching fire following their acquisition of Anthony Davis, but now that he – along with two key members of the frontcourt – have found themselves sidelined, there’s a world of opportunity for the visitors on Saturday.
We’ll highlight why this Mavericks defense could be in trouble in our Bucks vs. Mavericks predictions below.
Let’s dig into some NBA player props and hand out some NBA picks on Saturday, March 1.
Bucks vs Mavericks prediction
My best bet
Milwaukee Bucks -3.5 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
The biggest reason why the Dallas Mavericks were able to take a leap from playoff team to title contender last season was their play in the frontcourt.
They found a way to add to their rebounding numbers and strengthen their defense inside, led by the efforts of Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford, acquired at last year’s trade deadline.
Well, after losing Lively in late January, the Mavericks lost Davis and Gafford in consecutive games, and neither has suited up since February 10.
In that time, Dallas ranks just 16th in rim defense and 20th on the opposite end of the floor, and while it’s taken slightly fewer shots down low, it continues to allow attempts at an astronomical rate.
This will be a rare spot for the Milwaukee Bucks, where they’re roughly equal on the glass with their opponents, and despite some waning numbers offensively at the rim, they should have the opportunity to lean on some of their talented forwards to score on a vulnerable defense.
The Bucks have been one of the hottest teams in basketball when it comes to shooting the ball, and while Dallas did hold some good numbers against jumpers last month, another injury to P.J. Washington could make life even more difficult on the home side.
Milwaukee’s offense may have had a tough February, but it should pick up on Saturday if we assume it can find some points at the rim and steal away some possessions on the glass – something that’s been tough since Bobby Portis received a 25-game suspension.
The Bucks are far healthier and have looked like a much better team of late, coming off a big win against the Denver Nuggets just a couple of days ago, and they should continue pushing up the standings with another win here.
Bucks vs Mavericks same-game parlay
Milwaukee Bucks -3.5
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 29.5 Points
Taurean Prince 2+ Made Threes
As you might guess, this will be a game for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Mavericks are not only weak inside without their collection of bigs but are coming off a month where they allowed the highest frequency of shots at the rim in the NBA.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t had a 30-piece since he went down with an injury in early February, but he did just take 23 shots against the Nuggets for 28 points in a big win. With 27 or more in back-to-back games and his volume increasing, there’s no reason to believe this number is out of reach.
Then, we’ll look to back the Bucks’ hot shooting the best way we can against a tough 3-point defense. I’m going to focus on the corner 3, which the Mavericks have ranked 18th against in the past month, with Taurean Prince – the man who takes the most shots out of this zone.
Prince has seen plenty of minutes in the absence of Portis and Pat Connaughton, cashing two or more triples in six of his last seven games with an average of 5.6 attempts per game over that span.
He’s shooting 46.2% in that timeframe and shouldn’t face a ton of resistance, given this spot has been a tough one for Dallas to defend.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Bucks vs Mavericks odds
Bucks vs Mavericks live odds
Bucks vs Mavericks opening odds
- Spread: Milwaukee -2.5 (-110) | Dallas +2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Milwaukee -140 | Dallas +120
- Over/Under: Over 229.5 (-110) | Under 229.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Bucks vs Mavericks spread and Over/Under analysis
- This line has made two moves toward the Bucks, though after hitting 3.5, we’ve seen no further action
- The Bucks have taken on 75% of the bets and 86% of the handle wagered on the spread.
- The total initially fell a full point minutes after opening and has since bounced between 228.5 and 228 with some apparent agreement on the latter number in the afternoon on Saturday.
- While 71% of the bets are on the Over, 46% of the money is on the Under.
Bucks vs Mavericks trend
The Dallas Mavericks have hit the 1H Game Total Under in 25 of their last 33 games at home (+16.90 Units / 45% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Bucks vs. Mavericks.
How to watch Bucks vs Mavericks
| Location | American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas |
| Date | Saturday, 3-1-2025 |
| Tip-off | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | FanDuel Sports Network-Wisconsin, WMLW, KFAA |
Bucks vs Mavericks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
