The Dallas Mavericks will be looking to avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. The NBA betting odds for tonight have the Nets favored by 2.5 at the American Airlines Center.
Will Brooklyn deal Dallas its third loss in a row? Keep reading our Nets vs. Mavericks NBA picks and predictions to find out.
Nets vs Mavericks odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Mavericks were 2.5-point underdogs when this game opened, and you can now get them as 3.5-point dogs. An overwhelming majority of bettors is backing Brooklyn here, which might be the reason the line is moving. However, it could also be the injuries that Luka Doncic is dealing with that are moving the spread. The total, meanwhile, is 215.5 in all but one place, where it is listed at 216.5. It opened at 215.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Nets vs Mavericks predictions
Predictions made on 12/07/2021 at 11:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Nets vs Mavericks game info
• Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
• Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2021
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: TNT
Nets vs Mavericks betting preview
Injuries
Nets: James Johnson F (Probable), Joe Harris G (Out), Kyrie Irving G (Out).
Mavericks: Luka Doncic G (Questionable), Kristaps Porzingis F (Probable), Tim Hardaway Jr. G (Questionable), Willie Cauley-Stein C (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Nets are 0-6 ATS in their last six games as favorites. Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Mavericks.
Nets vs Mavericks picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Brooklyn has had two games off since losing by four at home against the Chicago Bulls, so the Nets will be well-rested for this meeting with the Mavericks. The Nets have, however, failed to cover in six of their last seven games. This team is not playing all that well at the moment, and the group is definitely somewhat vulnerable heading into this meeting with Dallas.
Whereas the Nets are 12th in the league in offensive rating and sixth in the league in defensive rating this season, Brooklyn is eight in offense and 13th in defense over the last seven games. That small slide in defense is the reason that the Nets haven’t been covering as frequently, and not beating spreads simply means that this Brooklyn group isn’t playing up to expectations.
In a national television game against the Mavericks, the Nets could really struggle to get stops if they’re not completely locked in on the defensive end. In five career games against Brooklyn, Doncic is averaging 23.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. His percentages haven’t been great, but Doncic always rises to the occasion against this Nets team. And he also happens to be at his best when he’s playing on a big stage like this. If he’s out there, you won’t want to be on the other side here.
The Nets don’t have anybody besides Durant that can really take on the challenge of guarding Doncic in this game, but they might not want to have him handle that assignment all game. If Durant does have to guard him, he’ll be using a lot of energy and won’t be as effective on the offensive end. There’s also no guarantee that he’ll be able to contain Dallas’ star. Overall, that’s why this is shaping up to be a game that Dallas will have a chance to win down the stretch.
It’s also worth noting that Kristaps Porzingis is looking more and more like the guy that people remember him being in New York — and in his first year in Dallas. Porzingis still misses more games than you’d like, but he’s averaging 19.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game this year. He’s more involved in the offense than he was a year ago, and he’s moving a lot better on the defensive end. His presence as a rim protector is another reason you’ll want to back Dallas here.
This is, however, a game to avoid if Doncic doesn’t end up playing. So, keep your eyes on the injury reports.
Prediction: Mavericks +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
You can get this number if you look hard enough for it, but don’t worry if you have to play this game at 215.5. This should be a somewhat low-scoring game, and a lot of that has to do with the pace the Mavericks play at. Dallas is 26th in the league in pace this season, and the team could be even slower if Doncic ends up playing on his slow ankle. Look for him to walk the ball up and play a half-court game in this one, and that won’t change when he heads to the bench. Backup Jalen Brunson also likes to play at a very slow pace. The Nets also do their fair share of playing slow, with James Harden also preferring to walk the ball up the floor and take his time.
The Nets have gone Under in three of their last four games, and the same can also be said about the Mavericks. On top of that, the Under has hit in three of the last four games between these two.
Prediction: Under 216.5 (-110)
Best bet
The Mavericks are 4-1 both SU and ATS in their last five games against the Nets. They’re also 17-7 SU and 14-10 ATS when coming off back-to-back SU losses over the last three seasons. This Dallas team doesn’t often struggle in bunches, and the group is also catching Brooklyn at the right time.
If Doncic ends up playing, you should feel comfortable taking the Mavs to win this game outright. However, his status is of the utmost importance, so you’ll want to monitor it all day. Without Doncic, it’s going to be really tough for Dallas to pull out the win here.
Pick: Mavericks +3.5 (-110)
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