Dallas Mavericks at Toronto Raptors NBA Picks & Predictions 3/16/2018

Friday, March 16, 2018

Air Canada Centre

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Dallas Mavericks travel to Air Canada Centre to play the Toronto Raptors on Friday, March 16, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Toronto as 12.5 point favorites.

The Mavericks head into this matchup with a mark of 22-46. They are 4th in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of -2.2 as they are averaging 102.4 points per contest while giving up 104.6 per game. The Raptors have an overall mark of 50-17. They currently are 1st in the Atlantic Division. They are averaging 112.3 points per contest and giving up 103.4, which is a point differential of 8.9.

Valuable Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 35-32-1 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 30-38-0 against the over/under

Important Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 39-28-0 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 33-33-1 against the over/under

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

03/11/18 G Wesley Matthews Leg is out indefinitely
02/06/18 G Seth Curry Tibia is out for season

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

03/15/18 F OG Anunoby Ankle is downgraded to doubtful Thursday vs Indiana
03/14/18 G Norman Powell Ankle is doubtful Thursday vs Indiana

Player Spotlight

Dennis Smith averages 14.9 points per game in 29.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.9 assists per contest and 3.8 rebounds per game for Dallas. His field goal percentage is 39% for the year while his free throw percentage is 70%. Harrison Barnes comes into this contest averaging 18.6 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Mavericks. He pulls down 6.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 83%.

Player Spotlight

DeMar DeRozan averages 23.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34 minutes per contest. He also averages 4 rebounds per contest and 5.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Kyle Lowry averages 16.4 points per game while playing 32.1 minutes per contest this year for the Raptors. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per game and has 6.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage currently is at 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Mavericks allow 104.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 11th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 21st and 16th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.4 rebounds a game which ranks 26th, and they give up 23 assists per contest which puts them in 14th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league. Dallas averages 102.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -2.24 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 26th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 16th in the league. They average 41.1 rebounds per game and 22.6 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 29th with 12.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Raptors surrender 103.4 points per contest, which ranks them 6th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 5th and 8th in those defensive statistics. They rank 9th with 21.9 assists allowed per contest, and 15th with 42.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Raptors are 23rd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15 per game this season. Toronto is 3rd in the league with 112.3 points per game this year. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 8.9. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 22nd in the NBA. They are 16th in the league in rebounding with 43.8 boards per game and 7th in assists per contest with 23.9. The Raptors are 27th in turnovers per game with 13.1.

Advanced Statistics

The Mavericks are 20th in the league in defensive rating with 109, and their offensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 15th. They are 25th in the NBA in pace with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 18th. As a unit they are 20th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA. Dallas is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 9th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Toronto is 27th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 28th in the league. The Raptors are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 114.2, and their defensive rating of 105.2 is ranked 27th. In terms of pace they are 14th in the league with 97.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 5th. As a team they are 4th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 5th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Toronto -12.5

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