Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Dec. 23, 2021

Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Nationally televised NBA coverage will resume on Thursday night with a heavyweight non-conference bout between the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks. Coverage begins from American Airlines Center at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

Score Prediction

Bucks 116, Mavericks 104

Best Bets

Bucks -4.5 (-110) at DraftKings

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks Predictions

After last year’s triumphant NBA title run, the Bucks posted a surprisingly poor start to the new season, as the Bucks opened with a head-scratching 6-8 SU and ATS skid – despite being favored in ten of those contests.

The Bucks have gradually settled into a rhythm since their slow start though, considering Milwaukee enters Thursday’s contest riding a sturdy 14-5 SU run - yet, still sit at just 8-11 ATS across that timeframe.

On the other hand, Dallas jumped out to a contrarily strong start to this season, as the Mavericks kicked things off with a solid 9-4 SU run – but those wins didn’t come particularly easy, considering Dallas went just 5-8 ATS across that stretch.

Injuries, along with a strengthened schedule, quickly caught up with Dallas in November though, considering the Mavericks are just 6-11 SU and 8-9 ATS since their 9-4 SU start – while getting tagged as favorites in just seven of those games.

I’ll lay the points Milwaukee here, as the Mavericks are just 3-6 SU without Luka Doncic this season, with their short-handed victories coming against considerably weaker opponents in the Hornets, Thunder, and Timberwolves – while the Bucks are still a very solid offensive squad without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Resources

• Matchup: Central vs. Southwest
• Date: Thursday, December 23, 2021
• Venue: American Airlines Center
• Location: Dallas, Texas
• TV-Time: NBATV - 8:30 p.m. ET

• Injury Report

Milwaukee Bucks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 19-13
• ATS: 13-19
• O/U: 12-20

After finishing with the best record in the East in two of the last three seasons, the Bucks’ rough opening stretch was slightly shocking, considering Milwaukee compiled a record of 162-65 across the previous three regular seasons – and then started this season just 6-8.

Since mid-November though, Milwaukee has played solid basketball when healthy, considering the Bucks are 14-5 SU across their latest 19-game stretch – with three of those losses coming in the absence of Antetokounmpo.

Dallas Mavericks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 15-15
• ATS: 14-16
• O/U: 10-19-1

After a disappointing first-round exit from last year’s playoffs, Dallas posted an incredibly encouraging start to the new season, as the Mavericks opened with wins in seven of their first ten games – before suffering a few critical injuries, leading to their plummet all the way down to 15-15.

The Mavericks are a very dangerous squad at full strength, as their dynamic perimeter scoring threats enables them to keep things competitive against virtually any opponent – but with Dallas’ top three scoring options all potentially sidelined for Thursday’s affair, their lack in depth should ultimately show through.

The Bucks are 3-6 ATS in their last six games as they battle the Mavs. (AP)

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks Head-to-Head

The Bucks and Mavericks split a two-game regular-season set last year, with both matchups going just over the total for this Thursday’s affair at an average of 219 PPG.

Key Players to Watch

• MIL: Khris Middleton - SF (17.8 PPG, 5.7 REB, 4.9 AST)
• MIL: Jrue Holiday - PG (17.3 PPG, 4.4 REB, 6.4 AST)
• DAL: Jalen Brunson - PG (15.3 PPG, 3.9 REB, 5.2 AST)
• DAL: Kristaps Porzingis - SF (19.4 PPG, 7.9 REB, 2 AST)

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Conclusion

Following Doncic’s placement in the league’s health and safety protocols on Wednesday, the Mavericks enter Thursday night’s contest as steep home underdogs against the visiting Bucks – marking the fourth straight game Dallas has been an underdog in.

I’ll lay the points with Milwaukee here, as despite the Bucks sitting at 1-3 SU and ATS across their latest four-game stretch, they should still bounce back rather easily against a Mavericks’ squad that very well could be playing without Tim Hardaway Jr., Willie Cauley-Stein, Maxi Kleber, Trey Burke, Doncic and possibly even Kristaps Porzingis on Thursday night.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

• The Mavericks are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
• The total has gone UNDER in four of the last six Bucks' games.
• The total has gone UNDER in eight of the last ten Mavericks' games.
• The Bucks are 3-6 ATS in their last eight games.

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