NBA Best Bets for Wednesday March 11, 2020 – ESPN Predictions, Nuggets vs. Mavericks

Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks Vegas Expert Pick and Betting Tips

Every basketball diehard across the pond will be staying up late or getting up early to watch Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, and the Dallas Mavericks host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

Doncic, Porzingis, and Jokic are three of the best European players in the NBA, and they are a sign of the impact that the continent has made on the league. Both teams are set to make the postseason, and this has the potential to be a first-round matchup.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets
Date and Time:  Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 8 p.m. ET
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
NBA Betting Online Odds at BetMGM: Denver -2.5, O/U 218
Mavericks vs. Nuggets TV Coverage: ESPN

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European Rivals Lead Their Teams into Battle on Wednesday Night When Dallas Hosts Denver

This is the third meeting between these teams this season, and the road team squeaked out a victory in both previous games. Dallas went into Denver and knocked off the Nuggets 109-106 back in late October, but Denver had its revenge two months ago when Jokic led his team to a 107-106 victory over the Mavericks with a 33-point performance.

Dallas Mavericks Current Form

The Mavericks have been unable to capitalize on a relatively light schedule post All-Star Break. Dallas had a chance to catch Houston, Oklahoma City, and Utah and potentially host a first-round playoff series, but they have gone 6-5 despite playing just two teams with winning records over the last few weeks. They are on a two-game losing streak headed into Wednesday night’s game, losing to Indiana on Sunday and San Antonio on Tuesday despite excellent games from Doncic on both defeats.

Denver Nuggets Current Form

Denver is 5-4 since the All-Star Break, and the Nuggets knocked off the two best teams in the Eastern Conference in the Mile High City. However, they continue to stumble against some of the worst teams in the NBA, missing out on chances to move up in the standings. They lost to Golden State by 16 points last Tuesday, and they fell to the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Saturday night.

Mavericks to Watch

Doncic has been sublime this season. He is averaging 28.5 PPG, 9.4 RPG, and 8.7 APG, and he can drop a triple-double on any night. He was superb in the Mavericks’ last two games, hitting 50 percent of his field goals while accounting for 36 points against the Pacers and 38 points against the Spurs. Doncic isn’t a great three-point shooter, but his size and athleticism make him very difficult to defend.

A change of scenery was just what Porzingis needed to make the next step in his development. The 7’3 power forward was reportedly enamored with the nightlife in NYC, but he has had time to focus on his game in Dallas. He is averaging 19.4 PPG and 9.4 RPG, and his ability to hit threes makes him devastating on the wing.

Nuggets to Watch

Denver runs its offense through Jokic, and that’s a testament to the big man in an era where teams are getting smaller. He leads the Nuggets in all three major offensive categories with 20.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 6.8 APG, and he has been very efficient from the floor. Jokic is knocking down 52.7 percent of his field goals, but his interior defense does leave something to be desired.

Jamal Murray is the best perimeter player on the Nuggets, and Denver relies on him in the clutch. Murray was excellent in his last two games, going 16 of 31 from the field and 6-13 from beyond the arc, while tallying more than five boards and five assists a night.

Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks Selection Summary

The previous two games between these opponents were low scoring, so don’t expect a ton of points in the third game between Dallas and Denver. Look for the Nuggets to pull out the win though as Jokic is very difficult for any low post player on the Mavericks to stop.

Nuggets vs. Mavericks Free Pick and Score Projection

Denver Nuggets -2.5
Denver 110, Dallas 105

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