Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks - 1/2/20 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Brooklyn Nets vs Dallas Mavericks

Date: Thursday, January 2, 2020

Location: American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX

TV: Fox Sports Southwest - Dallas

Odds/Point Spread: Dallas -3.5

Total/Over-Under: 222

Taurean Waller-Prince and the Brooklyn Nets (16-16, 4th in the Atlantic Division) travel to American Airlines Center on Thursday where they'll meet the Dallas Mavericks (21-12, 2nd in the Southwest Division). Dallas opens this matchup as 3.5 point favorites. The over/under is set at 222.

The Nets are covering the spread 50.0% of the time, having gone 16-16-0 ATS. Dallas is covering 54.5% of the time, going 18-15-0 against the spread.

Key Brooklyn Nets Injuries

12/31/2020 Caris LeVert SG Thumb Game Time Decision
12/31/2020 Kyrie Irving PG Shoulder Game Time Decision
12/29/2020 Nicolas Claxton PF Hamstring Expected to be out until at least Jan 2
12/19/2020 David Nwaba SG Achilles Out for the season
10/31/2020 Kevin Durant SF Achilles Out for the season

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

12/31/2020 Jr SG Hamstring Expected to be out until at least Jan 2
12/31/2020 Ryan Broekhoff SG Knee Expected to be out until at least Jan 2
12/31/2020 Kristaps Porzingis PF Knee Expected to be out until at least Jan 2

Player Spotlight

Taurean Waller-Prince comes into this game averaging 12.2 points per contest while playing 30.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.8 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 37% while his free throw percentage is 78%. Spencer Dinwiddie averages 23.0 points per contest in 31.0 minutes per game. He averages 6.3 assists per game and 3.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% for the season while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Tim Hardaway scores 13.7 points per contest while playing 25.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.6 rebounds per contest and has 1.7 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is at 81%. Kristaps Porzingis averages 17.3 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 9.4 rebounds per game and has 1.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 73%.

Useful Team Statistics

Brooklyn averages 110.6 points per contest, which is 16th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.8 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 24th. From 3-point territory they shoot 33%, which is good for 27th in the NBA. They average 48.9 boards per contest and 23.6 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 7th with 15.8 per game. The Nets allow 111.4 points per contest, which is 18th in the NBA. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 3rd and 12th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 47.1 rebounds a game which ranks 26th, and they allow 21.3 assists per game which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 6th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Dallas is 4th in the NBA with 116.3 points per contest this season. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 7.55. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 10th in the league. They are 3rd in the NBA in rebounding with 48.1 boards per contest and 14th in assists per game with 24.5. The Mavericks are 29th in turnovers per contest with 13.1. The Mavericks give up 108.8 points per game, which ranks them 15th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 9th and 6th in those defensive statistics. They rank 8th with 22.9 dimes allowed per game and 15th with 45.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Mavericks are 1st in the league in forcing turnovers with 12.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nets are 23rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.5, and their defensive rating of 107.2 is ranked 12th. In terms of pace they are 8th in the league with 102.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 22nd. As a team they are 22nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league. Brooklyn is 10th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 28th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Dallas is 30th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the league. The Mavericks are 1st in the NBA in offensive rating with 116.2, and their defensive rating of 108.6 is ranked 15th. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 99.5 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 46% of their shots, ranking 2nd in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Dallas -3.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here