Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks NBA Picks & Predictions 12/30/2018

Sunday, December 30, 2018

American Airlines Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to American Airlines Center to play the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, December 30, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 3.5 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup with a mark of 22-12. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 6.4 as they average 112.1 points per contest while giving up 105.7 per game. The Mavericks have an overall record of 16-18 this season. They are 4th in the Southwest Division. They average 111.0 points per game and surrender 110.3, good for a point differential of 0.7.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 18-15-0 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 16-17-0 against the over/under

Important Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 20-13-0 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 19-14-0 against the over/under

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

12/28/18 G Alex Abrines Illness is questionable Sunday vs Dallas
12/28/18 SF Paul George Quad is questionable Sunday vs Dallas
12/28/18 G Terrance Ferguson Illness left last game, is questionable Sunday vs Dallas
10/04/18 G Andre Roberson Knee is out indefinitely

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

12/28/18 G Wesley Matthews Foot is questionable Sunday vs Oklahoma City

Player Spotlight

Dennis Schroder averages 16.1 points per game in 29.5 minutes per contest. He averages 4.6 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%. Paul George comes into this contest averaging 26.3 points per game while playing 35.4 minutes per night. He pulls down 8.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Player Spotlight

Luka Doncic averages 19.5 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 5.0 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 76%. Harrison Barnes averages 18.4 points per game while playing 32.1 minutes per contest. He grabs 4.2 rebounds per game and has 1.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder allow 105.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 6th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 9th and 4th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.0 rebounds a game which ranks 9th, and they give up 23.9 assists per contest which puts them in 12th place in the league. They force 17.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the league. Oklahoma City averages 112.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 6.4 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 14th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 29th in the league. They average 48.7 rebounds per game and 22.6 assists per contest, which ranks them 2nd and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 7th with 14.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Mavericks surrender 110.3 points per contest, which ranks them 16th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 22nd and 17th in those defensive statistics. They rank 19th with 24.4 assists allowed per contest, and 5th with 43.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mavericks are 18th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game. Dallas is 14th in the league with 111.0 points per game this year. They are 15th 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 16th in the NBA. They are 13th in the league in rebounding with 45.3 boards per game and 22nd in assists per contest with 22.8. The Mavericks are 5th in turnovers per game with 15.1.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 19th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.4, and their defensive rating of 103.2 is ranked 2nd. In terms of pace they are 5th in the league with 102.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 23rd. As a team they are 24th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league. Oklahoma City is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Dallas is 5th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 10th in the league. The Mavericks are 16th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.7, and their defensive rating of 110 is ranked 15th. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 99.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 14th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 4th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Dallas +3.5

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