Mavericks vs. Bucks Predictions, Odds

• Jan. 15, 2021
• By Michael Crosson
• VegasInsider.com

Interconference NBA action will take center-stage on Friday night with the Mavericks set to visit the Bucks in primetime on ESPN. So, VI has you covered with another slate of Best Bets and Game Previews to help handicap all the action.

Mavericks vs. Bucks Betting Resources

• Matchup: Eastern vs. Western Conference
• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Venue: Fiserv Forum
• Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Date: Friday, Jan. 15, 2021
• Time: 7:35 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet | All

Betting Odds - Dallas Mavericks vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Line Movements

Subject to Change

• Spread: Bucks -6
• Money-Line: Milwaukee -240, Dallas +200
• Total: 227

The Bucks come into this game as a 6-point favorite, marking the sixth time already this season that the Mavericks have been listed as the ‘underdog’ in a matchup.

While the total for this matchup sits at OU 227 – currently the second highest ‘over-under’ on Friday’s NBA board.

The Mavericks are riding a 4-0 SU/ATS run as they head to Milwaukee on Friday. (AP)

Mavericks vs. Bucks Current Form-Last Game

The Mavericks have won and covered the spread in each of their last four games, with only two of those victories coming in contests that Dallas was favored in.

Dallas’ most recent affair was all about Luka Doncic per usual, as the All-Pro guard fell just one assist shy of his third triple-double of the season in the Mavs’ victory over the Hornets this past Wednesday (34 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists).

On the flipside, the Bucks got off to a rocky 2-3 start to the season but since then have won six of their last seven games, with their only loss across that stretch coming against Utah during the front-end of a back-to-back set.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Milwaukee Bucks Head-to-Head

• Aug. 8, 2020 - Mavericks 136 vs. Bucks 132 (OT)*, Dallas +6, Over 237
• Dec. 16, 2019 - Mavericks 120 at Bucks 116, Dallas +10.5, Over 227
*Game played in Orlando's Bubble

The Mavericks completed a 2-game regular season series sweep of the Bucks last year, with the first of those victories coming without Doncic on the floor.

During Doncic’s absence, the first matchup between these teams was dominated by Kristaps Porzingis and Seth Curry, with both guys chipping in 26 points apiece on a combined 18 for 34 from the field.

Giannis Antetokounmpo put on two great performances during this series, going for 48 points on 58% from the field in the first loss and 34 points on 50% shooting in the second.

‘Over’ tickets cashed in both meetings between these teams, with an average of 237 points per game being scored in regulation across the two contests.

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

Dallas Mavericks Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

• Overall: 6-4 SU, 6-4 ATS, 3-7 O/U
• Road: 4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS, 3-4 O/U

Porzingis made his season debut in the Mavericks most recent contest and the All-Star forward scored 16 points on 37.5% from the field while on a 20-minute workload.

Dallas’ currently has an extremely thin rotation due to a large chunk of their roster being out due to COVID-19 exposure, so Porzingis logging 25+ minutes would be ideal for the Mavericks in a game that they will likely need a significant amount of help containing Giannis down low in.

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

• Overall: 8-4 SU, 6-6 ATS, 7-5 O/U
• Home: 5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS, 4-2 O/U

This Bucks have been prisoners to their schedule so far this season – winning the relatively easy matchups (Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland) and losing in the tougher contests (Utah, Boston, Miami).

In a perfect world, Jrue Holiday would take on the task of guarding Doncic in this matchup, but he landed himself on the injury report with an ankle issue in the Bucks most recent contest against the Pistons.

If Jrue’s injury hampers him at all in this contest, it could be a long night for Milwaukee’s guards defensively.

Key Injuries

Dallas Mavericks

• PF Kristaps Porzingis: Ankle - Probable
• SG Josh Richardson: Quarantine - Questionable
• PF Dwight Powell: Quarantine - Questionable
• PF Maxi Kleber: Quarantine - Questionable
• SF Dorian Finney-Smith: Quarantine - Questionable
• PG Jalen Brunson: Quarantine - Questionable

Milwaukee Bucks

• PG Jrue Holiday: Ankle - Probable

Aside from Holiday being listed as questionable for Friday’s contest with an ankle issue, the Bucks have a relatively clean injury report heading into this contest.

While a sizeable group of Mavericks players will continue their seven-day quarantine period during this contest after being exposed to a positive COVID-19 case.

Player Prop Best Bet

Khris Middleton – Over 21.5 points (-102)

Khris Middleton has struggled a little bit in his last two contests, averaging 16 points on 48.3% shooting during two easy victories over the Magic and Pistons.

Prior to that though, Middleton had tallied 22+ points in seven out of ten contests to start the year, with his only ‘unders’ coming in matchups against Detroit and Miami (three ‘unders’ vs Detroit).

Back Middleton to get back on track with 22+ points on Friday night, as I anticipate the Bucks will lean on their stars a significant amount in a tough matchup against the Mavericks.

Mavericks vs. Bucks Prediction

The Bucks come into Friday’s matchup against the Mavericks as winners in six of their last seven games, but those victories have come against subpar competition in the Bulls, Pistons (3), Cavaliers, and Magic.

I think Milwaukee will somehow find a way to keep their momentum going with a win in this game, but six points feels like too hefty of a total to lay considering how the Bucks have performed against playoff-caliber teams so far this year.

I’ll take the Mavericks with the points here.

Score Prediction: Bucks 117, Mavericks 114
Best Bet: Dallas +6