New Orleans Pelicans at Dallas Mavericks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/26/2018

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

American Airlines Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to American Airlines Center to play the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, December 26, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Dallas as 1.5 point favorites.

The Pelicans have a record of 15-19. They are 5th in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 0.9 as they average 116.3 points per game while giving up 115.4 per contest. The Mavericks have an overall record of 15-17 this season. They are 4th in the Southwest Division. They average 110.7 points per game and surrender 109.9, good for a point differential of 0.7.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 15-19-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 17-16-0 against the over/under

Important Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 19-13-0 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 18-14-0 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/11/18 F Nikola Mirotic Ankle is out indefinitely11/18/18 PG Elfrid Payton Finger is out indefinitely

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

12/20/18 PG Dennis Smith Jr. Wrist is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Anthony Davis averages 28.0 points per game in 36.9 minutes per contest. He averages 4.7 assists per contest and 12.7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 50% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%. Jrue Holiday comes into this contest averaging 20.8 points per game while playing 36.8 minutes per night. He pulls down 4.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 8.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 76%.

Player Spotlight

Luka Doncic averages 19.0 points per game and he sees the court an average of 32.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.6 rebounds per contest and 4.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 76%. Harrison Barnes averages 18.4 points per game while playing 32.0 minutes per contest. He grabs 4.1 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans allow 115.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 26th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 20th and 22nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.5 rebounds a game which ranks 15th, and they give up 25.3 assists per contest which puts them in 24th place in the league. They force 13.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the league. New Orleans averages 116.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.9 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 16th in the league. They average 47.7 rebounds per game and 27.2 assists per contest, which ranks them 5th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 8th with 14.7 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Mavericks surrender 109.9 points per contest, which ranks them 14th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 22nd and 16th in those defensive statistics. They rank 21st with 24.4 assists allowed per contest, and 6th with 43.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mavericks are 19th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.5 per game. Dallas is 16th in the league with 110.7 points per game this year. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 0.7. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 18th in the NBA. They are 13th in the league in rebounding with 45.5 boards per game and 21st in assists per contest with 22.9. The Mavericks are 5th in turnovers per game with 15.2.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 7th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.1, and their defensive rating of 112.2 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 3rd in the league with 102.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 8th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 25th in the league. New Orleans is 12th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 8th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Dallas is 5th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 11th in the league. The Mavericks are 16th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.2, and their defensive rating of 109.4 is ranked 13th. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 15th. 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 Pelicans/Mavericks NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Dallas -1.5

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