Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks NBA Picks & Predictions 3/22/2018

Thursday, March 22, 2018

American Airlines Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Jazz travel to American Airlines Center to play the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, March 22, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Utah as 5 point favorites.

The Jazz head into this matchup with a mark of 40-31. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 3.2 as they are averaging 103.0 points per contest while giving up 99.8 per game. The Mavericks have an overall record of 22-49. They currently are 4th in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 102.7 points per game and surrendering 105.2, good for a point differential of -2.5.

Valuable Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 38-32-1 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 31-39-1 against the over/under

Important Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 36-34-1 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 33-38-0 against the over/under

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

03/20/18 F Derrick Favors Knee is "?" Thursday vs Dallas
01/13/18 F Thabo Sefolosha Knee is out for season

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

03/18/18 G Dennis Smith Jr. Ankle is out indefinitely
03/11/18 G Wesley Matthews Leg is out indefinitely
02/06/18 G Seth Curry Tibia is out for season

Player Spotlight

Rudy Gobert comes into this contest averaging 14.1 points per game while playing 32.4 minutes per night so far this season for the Jazz. He pulls down 10.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 62% while his free throw percentage is currently at 69%. Donovan Mitchell averages 20 points per game in 33.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.6 assists per contest and 3.7 rebounds per game for Utah. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Dirk Nowitzki averages 12.4 points per game while playing 24.8 minutes per contest this year for the Mavericks. He grabs 5.6 rebounds per game and has 1.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage currently is at 90%. Harrison Barnes averages 18.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 34.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.3 rebounds per contest and 2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah averages 103 points per contest this season, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.17 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 43.1 rebounds per game and 21.7 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 13th with 14.7 per game. The Jazz allow 99.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 2nd in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 7th and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.9 rebounds a game which ranks 6th and they give up 19.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 15 turnovers per game which ranks them 25th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Dallas is 27th in the league with 102.7 points per game this year. They are 24th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -2.49. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 16th in the NBA. They are 27th in the league in rebounding with 41 boards per game, and 15th in assists per contest with 22.7. The Mavericks are 30th in turnovers per game with 12.4. The Mavericks surrender 105.2 points per contest, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 21st and 14th in those defensive statistics. They rank 14th with 23.2 assists allowed per contest and 25th with 45.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mavericks are 9th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz are 18th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.3, and their defensive rating of 104 is ranked 29th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 95.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 14th. As a team they are 13th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league. Utah is 7th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 24th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Dallas is 28th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 9th in the league. The Mavericks are 21st in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.9, and their defensive rating of 109.5 is ranked 14th. In terms of pace they are 26th in the league with 95.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 19th. As a team they are 20th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 5th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Dallas +5

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