Indiana Pacers vs Dallas Mavericks Predictions, NBA Picks Against the Spread 3/8/2020

Game: Indiana Pacers vs Dallas Mavericks

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2020

Location: American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX

TV: Fox Sports Southwest - Dallas

Odds/Point Spread: Dallas -1.5

Total/Over-Under: 231.5

American Airlines Center is the site where Kristaps Porzingis and the Dallas Mavericks (39-25, 2nd in the Southwest Division) will play the Indiana Pacers (38-25, 2nd in the Central Division) on Sunday. The odds on this matchup have Dallas as 1.5 point favorites. The total opens at 231.5.

The Pacers cover the spread 54.1% of the time, having gone 33-28-2 ATS. Dallas is covering 55.7% of the time, going 34-27-3 against the spread.

Key Indiana Pacers Injuries

03/06/20 SG Malcolm Brogdon Hip is questionable Sunday vs Dallas
03/06/20 SF T.J. Warren Leg is questionable Sunday vs Dallas
03/06/20 SF Doug McDermott Toe is questionable Sunday vs Dallas
02/24/20 SG Jeremy Lamb ACL is out for season

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

03/06/20 SG Seth Curry Ankle left last game, is questionable Sunday vs Indiana
03/06/20 SF Dorian Finney-Smith Hip is questionable Sunday vs Indiana
03/06/20 SG Tim Hardaway Jr. Shoulder is questionable Sunday vs Indiana
02/24/20 PG Jalen Brunson Shoulder is out indefinitely
01/21/20 PF Dwight Powell Achilles is out for season

Player Spotlight

Myles Turner averages 11.7 points per game in 29.4 minutes per contest. He averages 1.1 assists per contest and 6.4 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 76%. Domantas Sabonis comes into this contest averaging 18.3 points per game while playing 34.6 minutes per night. He pulls down 12.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is at 72%.

Player Spotlight

Tim Hardaway averages 15.6 points per game and he sees the court an average of 28.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.0 rebounds per contest and 2.0 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 81%. Kristaps Porzingis averages 19.7 points per game while playing 31.0 minutes per contest. He grabs 9.4 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pacers allow 107.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 7th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 7th and 9th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.7 rebounds a game which ranks 13th, and they give up 23.3 assists per contest which puts them in 6th place in the league. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 17th in the league. Indiana averages 109.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.0 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 12th in the league. They average 42.8 rebounds per game and 26.0 assists per contest, which ranks them 25th and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 26th with 13.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Mavericks surrender 110.4 points per contest, which ranks them 15th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 45% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 10th and 5th in those defensive statistics. They rank 10th with 23.7 assists allowed per contest, and 17th with 45.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mavericks are 2nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.2 per game. Dallas is 3rd in the league with 116.6 points per game this year. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 6.3. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 8th in the NBA. They are 4th in the league in rebounding with 47.1 boards per game and 13th in assists per contest with 24.6. The Mavericks are 28th in turnovers per game with 12.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Pacers are 16th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.2, and their defensive rating of 108.2 is ranked 7th. In terms of pace they are 23rd in the league with 98.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 10th. As a team they are 16th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 30th in the league. Indiana is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 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 11.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 22nd in the league. The Mavericks are 1st in the NBA in offensive rating with 117, and their defensive rating of 110.7 is ranked 17th. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 3rd. 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 Pacers/Mavericks NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Indiana +1.5

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