Jazz vs. Mavericks Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Apr. 5, 2021

by Jonathan Willis
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

The best team in the NBA has shown that its hot start to the season was no fluke. The Utah Jazz are running away with the Western Conference as only the Phoenix Suns are within six games of them.

Utah is a dazzling 22-2 in Salt Lake City this season, but the Jazz are also strong on the road with a 16-9 mark away from home. They will be out to add another win to that record when they travel to Texas to face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.

Jazz vs. Mavericks Betting Resources

Matchup: Western Conference
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: American Airlines Center
Location: Dallas, Texas
Date: Monday, Apr. 5, 2021
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
TV: NBA League Pass
Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Jazz vs. Mavericks

Line Movements

Subject to Change

Spread: Utah -4.5
Money-Line: Utah -185 Dallas +165
Total: 223

Luka Doncic and the Mavericks seek their first win against the Jazz in three tries this season. (AP)

Jazz vs. Mavericks Current Form-Last Game

Dallas has been on a roll over the last five weeks. The Mavericks were 15-16 at the tail end of February, but they have won 12 of their last 17 games to put some distance between this team and other Western Conference playoff hopefuls.

This will be Dallas’ second home game since St. Patrick’s Day. The Mavericks have won six of their eight road games since the holiday and four in a row with road wins over Oklahoma City, Boston, New York, and Washington. Their defense was exceptional during this stretch with the Mavericks allowing just 96.8 PPG in those four victories.

The Mavericks weren’t in a great spot this Saturday in Washington. Dallas had played the Knicks in New York the previous night, but fatigue was not a factor in a 109-87 victory for the Mavs.

Luka Doncic had 26 points in the win, while five other Dallas players scored in double figures with Kristaps Porzingis, Maxi Kleber, and Josh Richardson all scratches due to injury.

Utah has been incredible this season. The Jazz have been on a rampage after a 4-4 start with a 34-7 record after that lukewarm beginning to the campaign. They have an 11-game win streak and a nine-game win streak to their credit, and they are on another nine-game win streak heading into Monday’s game.

The Jazz hammered the Mavericks twice in Salt Lake City during their 11-game win streak. Utah beat Dallas twice in consecutive games in late January, winning by 12 and 19 points thanks to some great performances from Jordan Clarkson, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Rudy Gobert.

We saw the Jazz set an NBA record with 18 three-pointers in the first half against the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Utah took a 38-point lead into halftime as a result of that shooting, eventually winning 137-91. Donovan Mitchell, Joe Ingles, and Bogdanovic combined to make 11 threes, as Utah went 26-55 from beyond the arc.

Jazz vs. Mavericks Head-to-Head

Jan. 29, 2021 - Jazz 120 vs. Mavericks 101, Utah -4, Under 222
Jan. 27, 2021 - Jazz 116 vs. Mavericks 104, Utah -2, Under 220.5

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

Utah Jazz Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 38-11 SU, 31-18 ATS, 23-25-1 OU
Road: 16-9 SU, 13-12 ATS, 12-12-1 OU

Mitchell is leading the Jazz with 25.6 PPG and is the go-to player on this offense, although he still doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He is making 44.0% of his field goals and 40.4% of his threes, helping make the Jazz one of the top perimeter shooting teams in the NBA.

Mitchell isn’t the only guard shooting the lights out from deep though. Mike Conley is making 41.4% of his threes, and Ingles is knocking down an absurd 50% of his triples. Ingles is hitting 55% of his field goals and threes over the last month, helping spur the Jazz on this current run.

This is arguably the best defensive team in the NBA thanks to Gobert. The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is back in form after a dismal 2019-20 campaign.

His presence in the lane is why Utah leads the league in two-point percentage on defense, and the Jazz also rank first in opponent shooting efficiency. Gobert is averaging 3.2 BPG and has multiple blocks in 13 straight games.

Gobert can be a dominant force on offense too. He is averaging 14.6 PPG and 13.2 RPG. The big man is hitting 65.1% of his field goals, and he is pulling down 3.4 offensive rebounds a night. He has shot 50% or better from the floor in every game since the All-Star Break.

Dallas Mavericks Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 27-21 SU, 24-24 ATS, 20-28 OU
Home: 11-10 SU, 8-13 ATS, 9-12 OU

Doncic is a future NBA MVP and a constant triple-double threat. Doncic leads the Mavericks in points (28.6 PPG), rebounds (8.1 RPG), and assists (8.8 APG). He also leads the Mavericks in steals, although he isn’t the greatest defender.

The third-year player and former Real Madrid star is hitting 48.8% of his field goals. Additionally, Doncic is shooting much better from beyond the arc over the last two months, making over 43% of his threes in both February and March.

With three of Dallas’ seven leading scorers questionable to play on Monday, the Mavericks need more out of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson. Hardaway is averaging 16.6 PPG on the year. He is making 44.8% of his field goals and 39.7% of his threes, and Hardaway has tallied at least 14 points in nine of his last 11 games.

Brunson has been an even more impressive shooter in terms of efficiency. He is making 53.8% of his field goals and 39.4% of his threes. The two-time national champion at Villanova has scored at least 15 points in three straight games, but he could not stay out of foul trouble against Washington on Saturday.

Dallas’ improvement on defense has led to this team sneaking into the top ten in most major categories on that side of the ball. The Mavericks are eighth in scoring defense (109.9 PPG) and ninth in shooting percentage (45.6%), and they have been just as efficient inside and outside the arc.

Key Injuries

Utah Jazz

PG Mike Conley: Rest - Questionable

Dallas Mavericks

PF Kristaps Porzingis: Wrist - Questionable
SG Josh Richardson: Calf - Questionable
PF Maxi Kleber: Leg - Questionable
C Willie Cauley-Stein: Quarantine - Out