All of the eyes for this series continue to look toward the status of Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic. Doncic, who leads the Mavericks by averaging 28.4 points and .1 rebounds per game, missed the first game of the series with Utah due to a calf injury. There is reporting that says Doncic will also likely miss Game Two, which will put a lot of pressure on the Mavericks’ supporting cast.
The Jazz showed off what can happen when the team is healthy. Utah played strong defense and saw four players score in doubles figures. The Jazz are hoping that if it can steal the first two games of the series on the road, Utah will be able to advance to the Western Conference semifinals for the second straight year. NBA betting odds show this will be a pivotal contest for the Mavericks, who will want to avoid another loss to avoid heading on the road trailing 2-0 in the series.
Last games records
Utah beat Dallas 99-93 in Game One of the series. The Jazz finished the regular season 49-33, while the Mavericks were 52-30.
Matchup Information
Jazz at Mavericks Betting Analysis
Utah Betting Analysis
Game 1 showed the Jazz could win without a huge scoring performance from center Rudy Gobert. Gobert only attempted one shot and scored five points while contributing 17 rebounds. Utah was led by the excellence of shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, who scored a game-high 32, including shooting 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.
The Jazz made the most of their attempts from the free-throw line, knocking down 87 percent (20-of-23) of their opportunities. Utah didn’t have a great game from the perimeter, making 31.8 percent of its 3-pointers, which is about four percent below its season average. Bogan Bogdanovich was one of the standout performers from the series opener.
Bogdanovic, who averages 18.1 points per game, put in 26 to support Mitchell in the winning record. Gobert’s rebounding was vital in the first game, as Utah held a 53-34 edge in rebounding.
Dallas Betting Analysis
Dallas’ defense, for the most part, was just as effective without Doncic. What killed the Mavericks was an anemic offense. The Mavericks, who shot 46.1 percent from the field in the regular season, were limited to 38.2 percent shooting in the series opener. Dallas attempted 76 shots but were only able to covert on 29.
The Mavericks also missed opportunities at the free-throw line. Dallas shot 76.5 percent (26-of-34). Point guard Jalen Brunson carried the bulk of the offense for Dallas, scoring a team-high 24 points. Spencer Dinwiddie also scored over 20 points, making 6 of his 15 attempts from the field.
Betting stats NBA shows that the Mavericks have been able to lean on their stout defense all season. Dallas is second in the league in scoring defense, holding opponents to 104.7 points per game. The Mavericks also don’t let their opponents shoot well from the perimeter, limiting foes to 34 percent from the outside.
Updates
Doncic is listed as doubtful with a calf injury. Keep an eye on this injury, as if Doncic can play, it would significantly swing the betting line on this game.
- Dallas is 47-34-2 against the spread.
- Utah 34-46-3 is against the spread.
- The over is 31-40-2 in the Mavericks’ games this season.
- The over is 37-44-2 in the Jazz’s games this season.
- Dallas is 6-4 against the spread over its past 10 games.
- Utah is 2-7-1 against the spread over its past seven games.
Jazz at Mavericks Betting Preview
Making NBA picks on this game will require considering Utah to cover as a 5.5-point road favorite. Sports betting guides show the over/under on this game has been set at 205 points. The Jazz are -205 on the moneyline, while the Mavericks are +175.
Jazz at Mavericks Betting Prediction
Betting guides will show that the Utah Jazz pounded the class in Game 1 and created extra opportunities for themselves. Most importantly, out of their 19-rebound edge were the 13 offensive rebounds Utah was able to collect. Creating second-chance opportunities was important for the Jazz, who could rely on their 3-point shooting as much due to the excellence of Dallas’ defense.
With the Mavericks likely missing Doncic for the second straight game, Dallas will likely attempt to turn this game into an ugly, grind-it-out defense affair. However, Utah has shown that it is game in playing such a game. The Jazz are an excellent defensive team and are capable of finding ways to score. Utah will also likely be able to continue its strong rebounding against a smaller Dallas lineup. The Mavericks will be desperate, but with no Doncic will find themselves down 2-0.
How to bet on NBA, bet Utah -5.5.
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