Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 12/22/2017

Friday, December 22, 2017

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Dallas Mavericks travel to American Airlines Arena to play the Miami Heat on Friday, December 22, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Miami as 4 point favorites.

The Mavericks come into this game with an overall record of 9-23. They are 5th in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of -2.9 as they are averaging 99.7 points per game while giving up 102.6 per contest. The Heat have an overall record of 16-15. They currently are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They are averaging 99.9 points per game and surrendering 101.8, good for a point differential of -1.9.

Valuable Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 15-16-1 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 13-19-0 against the over/under

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 12-17-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 10-19-2 against the over/under

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

12/06/17 F Nerlens Noel Thumb is out indefinitely
11/14/17 F Dorian Finney-Smith Knee is out indefinitely
10/07/17 G Seth Curry Stress Fracture is out indefinitely

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/21/17 PG Goran Dragic Elbow is "?" Friday vs Dallas
12/21/17 C Kelly Olynyk Knee injured last game, is probable Friday vs Dallas
12/20/17 F Justise Winslow Knee is "?" Friday vs Dallas
12/17/17 F James Johnson Ankle is out indefinitely
11/30/17 C Hassan Whiteside Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Harrison Barnes averages 18.5 points per game in 34.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.1 assists per contest and 7.1 rebounds per game for Dallas. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%. Wesley Matthews comes into this contest averaging 12 points per game while playing 34.4 minutes per night so far this season for the Mavericks. He pulls down 3.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage is currently at 80%.

Player Spotlight

Goran Dragic averages 16.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 4 rebounds per contest and 4.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 77%. Dion Waiters averages 14.7 points per game while playing 31.3 minutes per contest this year for the Heat. He grabs 2.6 rebounds per game and has 3.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage currently is at 74%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Mavericks allow 102.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.7 rebounds a game which ranks 27th, and they give up 22.1 assists per contest which puts them in 14th place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the league. Dallas averages 99.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -2.88 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 41.4 rebounds per game and 21.4 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 28th with 13.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat surrender 101.8 points per contest, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 17th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20 assists allowed per contest, and 13th with 42.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Heat are 7th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.1 per game this season. Miami is 26th in the league with 99.9 points per game this year. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -1.94. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 13th in the NBA. They are 25th in the league in rebounding with 41.1 boards per game and 23rd in assists per contest with 21.1. The Heat are 9th in turnovers per game with 15.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Mavericks are 24th in the NBA in offensive rating with 104.3, and their defensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 16th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 95.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 21st. As a team they are 23rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 5th in the league. Dallas is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 13th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 2nd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 24th in the league. The Heat are 26th in the NBA in offensive rating with 104.2, and their defensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 22nd in the league with 95.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 9th. As a team they are 12th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 4th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Mavericks/Heat NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Dallas +4

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