The Nets are on the longest winning streak for any team in the NBA so far this season, with a winning streak of eight games. Seven of those games have been without perennial superstar Kevin Durant. The Nets have covered the spread in all eight games, too, whether they were an underdog or favorite. The Nets sit at second in the eastern conference with a record of 22-12.
The Mavericks have had a lackluster year so far, and all-star forward Luka Doncic has taken responsibility for it. It certainly doesn’t help when your second-best player, Kristaps Porzingis, can’t stay healthy. The Mavericks currently sit at the tenth seed in the western conference with a record of 15-16.
Dallas Mavericks betting preview: Luka Magic is in full effect
The Mavericks have not had the season they had hoped for after finishing seventh in the western conference last year. They currently sit at 15-16, good for ninth in the western conference. Luka is a very good basketball player, but he can’t do it without a supporting cast. The departure of Seth Curry to the 76ers and the extended absence of Kristaps Porzingis have really played a role in the lackluster season the Mavericks have had so far.
Luka is averaging 29 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds a game this season. The next closest player to him in points per game is Tim Hardaway Jr, with 16 per game. The Mavericks have a record of 15-16 against the spread this season and have only covered the spread once in the past four games. They need to either make some serious lineup adjustments or make a splash move at the trade deadline to get Luka the help he needs and deserves.
Brooklyn Nets betting preview: No KD= No problem
During this eight-game win streak for the Nets, some key role players have stepped up in a major way. For example, Bruce Brown has averaged 12 points per game since Kevin Durant has been out, and Joe Harris continues his insanely underrated and underappreciated shooting season, shooting 53% from the field and 50.4% from the three while simultaneously averaging 16 points while KD has been hurt. Role players are just as important as the superstar players.
The Nets are a mid-tier team when talking records against the spread. They are 13th in the league with a record of 18-16 against the spread this season. Like I stated before, the Nets have covered in eight straight games, and the Mavericks have only covered in three of their last eight games as road underdogs with an overall record of 7-9 on the road against the spread this season.
Brooklyn vs. Dallas odds and lines:
Draftkings has the odds opened up with the Nets favored by 4.5 points with the over/under set at 234.5.
Free Picks of the night:
My free pick of the night is Nets spread of -5.5.
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