Mavericks vs. Jazz Predictions, Odds, Preview

Mavericks vs. Jazz Video Best Bet

• Jan. 29, 2021
• By Jonathan Willis
• VegasInsider.com

Utah won its 10th straight game on Wednesday night. The Jazz beat the Dallas Mavericks, 116-104 in Salt Lake City to move to 14-4 on the year. The loss dropped the Mavericks to 8-10, but they will have a chance to avenge that defeat in a rematch on Friday night.

Mavericks vs. Jazz Betting Resources

• Matchup: Western Conference
• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Venue: Vivint Smart Home Arena
• Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
• Date: Friday, Jan. 29, 2021
• Time: 10:05 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet | All

Betting Odds - Mavericks vs. Jazz

Line Movements

Subject to Change

• Spread: Utah -4
• Money-Line: Utah -170 Dallas +155
• Total: 222

Rudy Gobert and the Jazz look for their 11th straight win on Friday as they host Dallas. (AP)

Mavericks vs. Jazz Current Form-Last Game

The Jazz have overcome a middling start to the season with 10 straight victories over the last three weeks. Their winning streak started with a road upset of the Milwaukee Bucks back on January 8, and they have also knocked off Atlanta, Denver, and Golden State over that stretch.

Utah has been held under 108 points just once during this run. That was early on when the Jazz gritted out an ugly 96-86 win over the Detroit Pistons for their second win in this streak.

Wednesday night’s game was essentially decided by halftime as Utah took a 21-point lead into the break. Luka Doncic poured in 30 points on 13 of 24 shooting, but it wasn’t enough as the Jazz outrebounded the Mavericks by 14 boards.

Jordan Clarkson came of the bench to score 31 points, and both Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles had big nights with Donovan Mitchell not in the lineup.

Dallas has now lost six of its last eight games and three in a row after a 6-4 start.

Most of the Mavericks’ recent woes can be laid at the feet of an ineffective defense. They have given up at least 112 points in eight straight games during this slump.

Mavericks vs. Jazz Head-to-Head

• Jan. 27, 2021 - Jazz 116 vs. Mavericks 104, Utah -2, Under 220.5
• Aug. 10, 2020 - Mavericks 122 vs. Jazz 114, Dallas +6, Over 221.5 (*NBA Bubble)
• Feb. 10, 2020 - Jazz 123 at Mavericks 119, Utah +1, Over 217.5
• Jan. 25, 2020 - Jazz 112 vs. Mavericks 107, Utah -5, Under 226.5

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

Dallas Mavericks Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

• Overall: 8-10 SU, 9-9 ATS, 7-11 OU
• Road: 6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS, 5-7 OU

Doncic was seen as one of the preseason favorites to be named NBA MVP. Doncic is nearly averaging a triple-double each night, but the Mavericks have floundered around their superstar.

That’s not just a Doncic problem though. Dallas is currently the worst three-point shooting team in the league. The Mavericks are making just 33.2 percent of their triples, as Kristaps Porzingis is making just 29.4 percent of his threes too.

There are only four good three-point shooters on the roster. Tim Hardaway Jr. is the most frequent firer of the bunch (8.0 3PA), and he is making 39.7 percent of his threes.

Jalen Brunson, Trey Burke, and Maxi Kleber are each hitting at least 40 percent from downtown, yet only Burke is averaging more than four attempts per game from distance. Unfortunately, Kleber won’t be available due to COVID.

Porzingis has not been the superstar that Dallas was banking on after his acquisition from the Knicks almost two years ago. His knee issues continue to bother him, leading to Porzingis undergoing off-season meniscus surgery. He only recently returned to the lineup for the Mavericks.

Porzingis has played in just eight games, and he has not been an efficient shooter outside of the paint. He has been pretty solid in the block though, ranking among the league’s best in converting opportunities there.

Utah Jazz Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

• Overall: 14-4 SU, 13-5 ATS, 7-11 OU
• Home: 7-2 SU, 7-2 ATS, 3-6 OU

Mitchell is currently in the NBA concussion protocol. He played in Tuesday’s win against the New York Knicks, but the league placed him in the protocol after he took a couple inadvertent hits to the head in that game. That led to him missing Wednesday’s game, and he is questionable to play on Friday.

Not having Mitchell would be a big blow to Utah although the Jazz shined without him in the first meeting between these two teams.

Mitchell is the team’s leading scorer with 23.4 PPG. He is making 39.5 percent of his threes, but he had a rough night from the floor against the Knicks in his last game. Utah’s best guard went just 3-15 and finished with less than 10 points for the first time all season.

Gobert is playing great. He has pulled down at least 10 rebounds in 13 straight games, and he has seven straight double-doubles. Gobert is averaging 13.4 PPG and 14.2 RPG on the year.

With Mitchell out on Wednesday, he rose to the occasion with his best performance of the season. Gobert went 11 of 20 from the field for 29 points and added 20 rebounds to boot. His presence in the block has also helped Utah average 11.4 offensive rebounds a game.

Utah is the second-best three-point shooting team in the league behind the Los Angeles Clippers. The Jazz are knocking down 39.7 percent of their threes as a team.

Clarkson exploded on Wednesday night for the Jazz, but Ingles, Mike Conley, and Royce O’Neale have all fared very well too. All three players are all hitting at least 41.9 percent from beyond the arc while averaging at least four triples a night.

Defense has been the key to Utah’s recent success. The Jazz have the No. 3 ranked defense in the league in both scoring defense (105.3 PPG) and defensive efficiency (1.039). Gobert has been huge in this regard with opponents making just 49.2 percent of their two-point field goals thanks to his interior defense.

Key Injuries

Dallas Mavericks

• PF Maxi Kleber: Quarantine - Questionable

Utah Jazz

• SG Donovan Mitchell: Concussion - Questionable
• C Derrick Favors: Back - Questionable

Mavericks vs. Jazz Prediction

The reportedly fractured relationship between Mitchell and Gobert has healed. Utah’s two stars have great chemistry, allowing the Jazz to take off through the first month of the season.

Mitchell seems likely to return to the lineup on Friday for Utah, and his presence would help push the Jazz past the Mavericks for the second straight game.

Score Prediction: Jazz 119, Mavericks 111
Best Bet: Utah