The Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons get to be in the spotlight as the lone NBA game on Thursday. The Mavericks visit the Pistons at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena.
With a 10-10 start, the Mavericks are in the thick of the playoff hunt and need to start a little run to climb into the top half of the Western Conference. That may be all they need as one of four teams with a .500 record. The Pistons, meanwhile, are dealing with some injuries and are 5-18 but have been more competitive this season.
The Mavericks are favored by eight points with a total of 221 points. The Mavericks are -350 on the moneyline, up from an opening of -265, while the Pistons are +240.
Mavericks back on track?
The Mavericks ended a four-game skid with a win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday before traveling to Detroit. The Mavs are hoping to get back to their winning ways in a matchup where they are the superior team.
The Mavericks rank fourth in allowing 107.6 points per game, but their defensive efficiency has not been great. They allow teams to convert 47.7% of field goals and 36.3% of 3-pointers, ranking 23rd and 22nd, respectively.
The point number is due to a slower pace because the Mavericks are only scoring 109.4 points per game, which ranks 24th. They are slightly better with offensive efficiency, converting 46.7% of field goals (16th) and 34.4% of 3-pointers (19th).
They are the worst rebounding team in the league, grabbing 38.2 per game, but only allow 42.5 per game, which ranks 11th.
Dallas has the best player in this game in Luka Doncic, who is averaging 33.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
Pistons lacking at guard
The Pistons are still without former top pick Cade Cunningham, who is out till mid-December with a shin injury. This year’s draft choice, Jaden Ivey, is questionable with a knee injury. Though it’s allowed Killian Hayes to show encouraging signs of improvement.
Still, the Pistons rank as one of the worst teams on both ends of the court. They are 26th in scoring 109.1 points per game, 29th in converting 44.3% of field goals, and 24th in making 33.2% of 3-pointers.
Defensively, they allow 117.7 points per game, and teams make 48.6% of field goals, the third-worst rate in the league. Detroit does, however, hold its opponents to 34.5% on 3-pointers, the ninth-best rate.
The Pistons grab 42.2 rebounds per game, ranking 24th, and allow 46.0 per contest to opponents, fourth worst defensively.
Mavericks/Pistons Betting Prediction
Don’t underestimate the Pistons’ ability to compete with top teams. Not having Cunningham hurts, though. If Ivey plays, Pistons +8 is in play, but otherwise, the Mavericks should be able to cover the spread, as they have in the last four meetings in Detroit. They are 5-1-1 against the spread in the last seven meetings, too.
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