On a calm Thursday evening in the NBA, there is just one game on the schedule: the Dallas Mavericks will face off against the Utah Jazz. The Mavericks are looking to bounce back after a narrow 130-127 defeat to the Golden State Warriors, where they squandered a seven-point lead in the final four minutes.
This season, Dallas has struggled in close games, boasting a disappointing 1-5 record in clutch situations where the score is within five points in the last five minutes of regulation or overtime. In contrast, last season they excelled, achieving the second-best winning percentage in such matchups with a 71.9% success rate.
While the Mavericks have shown improvement on defense, dropping their rating from 114.9 to 110.9, some might argue they have been a bit unlucky this year. According to ESPN’s Relative Percent Index, their current record of 5-6 could just as easily sit at 7-4 based on their point differential.
When it comes to betting, the Mavericks enter this match as nine-point favorites. The most prudent betting option appears to be wagering on the Jazz to score under their team total. Utah has struggled significantly on offense, ranking last in efficiency with just 104.5 points per 100 possessions and also holding the lowest field goal percentage at 42.7%.
In their previous encounter on October 28 in Dallas, the Mavericks secured a 110-102 victory, which fell short of the expected total of 232. Although Collin Sexton had an impressive night, shooting 9-for-11 from the field, the rest of the Jazz team shot only 30.9%, reflecting their ongoing scoring challenges.
Given that the Jazz have failed to reach 105 points in four of their last five meetings, betting on them to stay under their team total seems to be a wise choice. The recommended wager is Jazz team total Under 110.5.
Despite the current struggles, there’s hope for the Mavericks to start turning things around, as they continue to improve defensively. If they can find their rhythm in clutch situations, they may yet become competitive again this season.