Mavericks Slightly Favored To Get First Series Win
The Dallas Mavericks find themselves in another 0-2 hole after blowing a 19-point lead in San Francisco the other night. But according to the NBA betting lines, Dallas should be able to finish the job in their return to the American Airlines Center this Sunday though it could be another close one as the Golden State Warriors have been on a roll.
Let’s check the latest NBA picks, stats, injury reports, and NBA odds for Warriors vs Mavericks Game 3. We’ve plenty of NBA playoffs odds for you to consider.
What More Can the Mavericks Do?
Losing to the Golden State Warriors when your best player, Luka Doncic, has an off game is one thing. But losing to them when Doncic has a game-high 42 points is another. The Mavericks had the Warriors on the ropes as they scored 72 first-half points while hitting 15-of-27 3-pointers.
Luka Doncic & Jalen Brunson are the 2nd pair of starting guards to each score 20 points in the 1st half of a playoff game in the last 25 seasons.
The other backcourt to do this was Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in 2017, also at the Warriors. pic.twitter.com/BQJbLafU79
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 21, 2022
Of course, this ultimately proved unsustainable and Dallas cooled off. But what was more damning was how the Mavericks’ defense went off the rails as it allowed the Warriors to shoot 61 percent from the field. Kevon Looney looked like Shaquille O’Neal in the paint.
Dallas lost Game 1 because it couldn’t get its offense going and it blew Game 2 because its defense fell apart. We have yet to see a full effort from this still-growing team. If you’re still betting online on the team, Doncic is unbeaten in Dallas (4-0) during the playoffs and the Mavs have the NBA’s second-best home cover rate (62.2 percent).
Warriors Look For Consistency on the Road
While the Golden State Warriors are golden at home, they have been less than stellar on the road. All three of their losses have come in enemy territory and their 43.2 percent cover rate is the fifth-worst in the league. A big reason for this drop is Golden State’s defense.
The Warriors’ defensive rating goes from 104.9 at home to 116.9 on the road during the playoffs. OF course, this includes that infamous Game 5 against Memphis where the Grizzlies destroyed them by 39 points to the tune of “Whoop That Trick”. Maybe its cockiness or veteran savvy, but Golden State picks its battles.
There is a good chance that a more desperate Mavericks team will take the fight to Golden State here prompting the Warriors to “fold”. It may not be the best forecast for online sports betting purposes, but monitor Golden State as the game goes.
Warriors vs Mavericks Head-to-Head
The Golden State Warriors owned the Dallas Mavericks in the first two games but in the bigger picture, Dallas is still 11-5 against the spread (ATS) when playing them. With the series moving to Dallas, eight of their last nine games in the American Airlines Center have gone over.
Warriors vs Mavericks Game Information
- Game: Golden State Warriors (53-39) vs. Dallas Mavericks (52-30)
- Location: American Airlines Center
- Day/Time: Sunday, 9 p.m. ET
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Warriors vs Mavericks Betting Lines
Warriors vs Mavericks Prediction
The Dallas Mavericks should be pissed off at letting the Golden State Warriors come back and they now face another 0-2 deficit. Dallas managed to come back against Phoenix by disrupting their offense but against the Warriors, Dallas will need to hit them fast and not let up. There is a solid chance they do this as they did in Game 2.
The difference here is that Golden State won’t have the legs or the will to pull off another comeback. The Warriors’ defense is not anywhere near as dominant as it is at home and Dallas allows the fewest points at home. The Mavericks strike back.
