Sign In $
NBA

76ers vs. Mavericks Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
Apr. 12, 2021
by Jonathan Willis
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

Philadelphia is tied with Brooklyn for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Both the 76ers and Nets are 36-17 coming into Monday night and both teams are going on the road.

However, while the Nets get to face the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves, the Sixers must face the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas is currently 29-23 after its loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.

76ers vs. Mavericks Betting Resources

Betting Odds - 76ers vs. Mavericks

Line Movements

Subject to Change

  • Spread: 76ers -2.5
  • Money-Line: Philadelphia -140, Dallas +120
  • Total: 218.5

Luka Doncic and the Mavericks play with no rest on Monday night as Dallas welcomes in Philadelphia. (AP)

76ers vs. Mavericks Current Form-Last Game

Dallas was 16-16 at the end of February. The Mavericks looked like a middle of the pack team in the Western Conference, but they have won 13 of their last 20 games over the last six weeks. They have won six of their last eight games coming into Monday night with some very nice victories in that stretch.

The Mavericks went on the road to beat Oklahoma City, Boston, New York, and Washington in consecutive games. They followed that up with a home win against Utah, and Dallas knocked off Milwaukee on Thursday.

However, the Mavericks haven’t had the same luck against teams from the Lone Star State. Dallas lost to Houston on Wednesday night and fell to San Antonio last night.

Kristaps Porzingis had 31 points and 15 rebounds for Dallas, and Luka Doncic notched 29 points in the loss. Unfortunately, Dallas didn’t have another player finish with more than 15 points. DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with 33 points and made the game-winning shot with a second left to give San Antonio a 119-117 win.

Philadelphia looked likely to lock down the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for most of the season. However, the Sixers are 4-4 over their last eight games. Two of their wins came against lowly Cleveland and Minnesota, and they didn’t look great against the Clippers or the Grizzlies.

The 76ers had little trouble against the Mavericks when they met in Philadelphia in late February. They beat the Mavericks 111-97 as Dallas shot just 41% from the field. The Mavericks had more turnovers than assists in the loss, and that helped the Sixers overcome a poor shooting performance from Joel Embiid.

In their most recent game, the Sixers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 117-93 on Saturday night. Embiid played well and led all scorers with 27 points in the win. Philadelphia played great defense and ended the game with 10 blocks and forced 22 turnovers out of Oklahoma City.

76ers vs. Mavericks Head-to-Head

  • Feb. 25, 2021 - 76ers 111 vs. Mavericks 97, Philadelphia -5, Under 228

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Philadelphia 76ers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 36-17 SU, 29-22-2 ATS, 25-28 OU
  • Road: 16-12 SU, 13-13-2 ATS, 10-18 OU

Embiid is the most dominant interior force in the game. Embiid was the favorite to win the NBA MVP award before he was sidelined for three weeks due to injury shortly after the All-Star Break.

The All-Star center returned a little over a week ago against Minnesota. Embiid hasn’t been as sharp as he was before the injury though, shooting less than 50% from the floor in three of his four games. Additionally, he has not registered a double-double since before the All-Star Break.

The Sixers didn’t have Tobias Harris available on Saturday against the Thunder as he needed some rest in the second part of a back-to-back.

However, head coach Doc Rivers has said that Harris will be able to play on Monday. Philly’s second leading scorer is averaging 20.6 PPG and 7.3 RPG this season. Harris is making 52% of his field goals and 40.1% of his threes to be one of this team’s most efficient scorers.

Ben Simmons is averaging 15.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 7.1 APG this season. Simmons is one of the best perimeter defenders in the game with 1.6 steals a night, but his shooting has gotten him into trouble. A sizable percentage of his points come in transition, and he is making just 33.3% of his threes.

Veterans Danny Green and Seth Curry are the two most prolific perimeter shooters on the roster. Green and Curry are both knocking down over 40% of their threes. That allows Embiid to take over in the low post without fear of collapsing defenders as they can make overeager defenses pay.

Dallas Mavericks Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

  • Overall: 29-23 SU, 26-26 ATS, 21-31 OU
  • Home: 13-11 SU, 10-14 ATS, 10-14 OU

Doncic leads Dallas in every major category. The former Rookie of the Year will likely win an NBA MVP sometime in the next few years, as he is averaging 28.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 8.7 APG.

He is hitting 48.3% of his field goals and 37% of his threes, but his perimeter shooting has tailed off this month. Doncic is making just 31.8% of his threes in April despite taking almost nine treys a game.

Injuries have kept Porzingis from reaching his full potential. Porzingis is an extremely talented player with measurables that make front offices salivate, but we have yet to see him really put everything together.

The former Knicks' standout is averaging 20.4 PPG and 9.2 RPG, yet he has only played 33 games this season. Porzingis is making 47.7% of his field goals and 36.9% of his field goals.

Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson are two of the top three-point shooters on the roster. Hardaway is a lot more high volume shooter, averaging 7.5 threes a night, and he is making 39.4% of his triples.

Meanwhile, Brunson is making 39.9% of his threes while averaging 3.0 attempts a game.

Dallas is hoping that Maxi Kleber will be available for this game. Kleber is the best perimeter shooter on the roster. He is making 43.3% of his threes, but he has only played sporadically over the last couple weeks due to continued soreness in his right leg.

Key Injuries

Philadelphia 76ers

  • SG Danny Green: Hip - Probable
  • SF Tobias Harris: Knee - Probable

Dallas Mavericks

  • PF Maxi Kleber: Leg - Questionable
  • PG Tyrell Terry: Personal - Questionable

76ers vs. Mavericks Prediction

Dallas might be playing at home, but Philadelphia has an extra night of rest to its advantage. The 76ers aren’t as strong on the road as they are at home, yet they can play well enough to knock off the Mavericks.

Score Prediction: 76ers 117, Mavericks 110
Best Bet: Philadelphia -2.5

Nba News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•