With their three-game losing streak snapped, the Dallas Mavericks hit the road for a date with the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets are back from a road trip cut short by the LA fires, but successful with two wins in three games. Still, the books aren’t giving Charlotte much love, pegging them as 5.5-point home underdogs for this Monday matinee on January 20.
Our Mavericks vs Hornets prediction moves away from the game script to the scoring output of Kyrie Irving. Get your NBA picks in before this noon ET tip.
Mavericks vs Hornets prediction
My best bet
Kyrie Irving Under 24.5 points (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
Kyrie Irving played just his third game since the calendar turned to 2025, dealing with a back injury that shelved him for six of the last seven games.
Last time out, he dropped 25 points against OKC in a much-needed 106-98 win over the Thunder, snapping the Dallas Mavericks’ three-game losing streak.
His line is set at 24.5 points, and while the ultra-talented guard can break out a 30-bomb at any time, recent play indicates this line is a little high.
I get it, though. Luka Doncic is out, which should presumably allow Irving to deal. But he’s gone Under 20 points in four games against the Charlotte Hornets since joining the Mavs, while Doncic led the team in scoring in all four games.
But since that Christmas day game when Luka went down with a calf injury, Irving has played five games without his all-world running mate, and the game vs. OKC was just the second time he hit 25 points, scoring 20 or less three other times.
Charlotte isn’t a great team by any stretch, but its problems stem from the fact that it can’t score enough to support a decent defense that ranks 14th in points allowed at 112.7 per contest. The Hornets are also Top 8 in defending the 3-point line, allowing teams to shoot just 35.2% from distance.
Irving has gone Under his total four times in his last five away games.
While it looks like the worst of that back injury is behind him — he did log 39 minutes in the win over OKC — Irving himself said it’s going to be a process to get back to form.
Mavericks vs Hornets same-game parlay
Kyrie Irving Under 24.5 points
LaMelo Ball Under 29.5 points
Under 224
Let’s add another all-star caliber guard to the SGP.
LaMelo Ball is the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer at 29.5 points per game, and he’s coming off a 26-point, 9-assist effort in a win over the Bulls. That’s been the trend lately, as Ball has cracked the 30-point plateau just once in the five games in 2025, going Under this total in three straight.
Ball has also gone Under this total the last three times vs. Dallas.
Since Dec 26 (the day after Doncic got hurt), Dallas is scoring just 108.5 points per game. That’s been Charlotte’s problem all season, ranking 26th in scoring at 107 PPG.
The Under has cashed in five of the last eight head-to-head meetings.
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Mavericks vs Hornets odds
Mavericks vs Hornets live odds
Mavericks vs Hornets opening odds
- Spread: Dallas -5.5 (-110) | Charlotte +5.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Dallas -225 | Charlotte +185
- Over/Under: Over 222 (-110) | Under 222 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Mavericks vs Hornets spread and Over/Under analysis
- Dallas is 2-8-0 against the spread in its last 10 games.
- Charlotte is 5-1-0 ATS vs the Mavericks over the last six.
- The Hornets have hit the Over in three straight.
- The Mavericks have cashed the Under in five of their last seven.
Mavericks vs Hornets trend
Charlotte has lost 16 straight home games vs West teams with a winning record. Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Hornets.
How to watch Mavericks vs Hornets
| Location: | Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC |
| Date: | Monday, 1-20-2025 |
| Tip-off: | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FanDuel Sports Network - Southeast - Charlotte, KFAA |
Mavericks vs Hornets latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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