Dallas Mavericks vs New Orleans Pelicans 12/3/19 NBA Betting Odds and Prediction

The Dallas Mavericks travel to the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Arena on Tuesday night.

The Mavericks have been one of the league’s biggest surprises. Dallas is currently the #1 team in the Southwest Division with their 13-6 record and they have benefited from the fantastic start of sophomore guard Luka Doncic who is averaging close to a triple-double. The Pelicans entered the season with high hopes following the drafting of Zion Williamson. But Zion has yet to play a regular-season game and the New Orleans frontline is also missing the services of key players. The Pelicans have the 4th worst record in the league at 6-14 on the season.

Luca’s Magic

The Dallas Mavericks have been one of the surprise teams of the 2019-20 NBA season. The Mavs are 13-6 SU on the season and they have the best record in the Southwest Division. Dallas’ success can be attributed to the magical play of sophomore guard Luka Doncic who is having a fantastic season.

Doncic is putting up a near triple-double average with 30.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game this season. Kristaps Porzingis is scoring 17.2 points and grabbing 9.2 rebounds per outing this season and he is also leading the Mavs in blocks at 2.1 swats per contest. Tim Hardaway Jr. and J.J. Barea are also scoring in double digits.

The Mavericks rank 4th in the league in scoring at 117.8 points per game. They are also 4th in rebounding at 47.7 boards grabbed per contest and they are 13th in passing at 24.5 assists per game. Dallas is in the Top 15 in scoring defense at 109.8 points per game allowed this season.

Still Dealing With Injuries

The New Orleans Pelicans have the fourth-worst record in the league at 6-14 SU on the season. The Pelicans have dropped five straight games and are still dealing with injuries to key players. Zion Williamson has yet to suit up while Derrick Favors and Kenrich Williams are also on the Pelicans’ injured list.

Brandon Ingram is averaging a career-high 25.5 points per game this season. Ingram is also grabbing 7.4 rebounds and issuing 4.0 assists per game. Jrue Holiday is adding 19.4 points per game while leading the Pelicans in assists at 7.1 dimes per contest. J.J. Redick, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, and E’Twaun Moore are also scoring in double digits.

The Pelicans rank 6th in scoring at 114.5 points per game this season. New Orleans is tied for 17th in rebounding at 44.9 boards grabbed per contest and they are 11th in passing at 25.1 assists per game. The Pelicans are allowing the second-most points per game this season at 118.9 points per game.

Who Wins?

Dallas is 7-1 SU in their last 8 games played. The Mavericks are 7-2 SU in nine road games played so far this season. New Orleans is 0-5 SU in their last five games played. The Pelicans are 4-6 SU in 10 home games played this season, and 0-5 SU in their last five games against the Western Conference. Head to head, the Pelicans are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played against the Mavericks.

The Mavs have won seven out of their last eight games played and they just broke the Los Angeles Lakers’ 10-game winning streak. Luka Doncic isn’t just putting up triple-double numbers but he is having an MVP season. Tim Hardaway Jr. has scored over 18 points per game in their last six games played.

The Pelicans are still without top overall pick Zion Williamson. Derrick Favors has also missed a good part of the start of the season while Kenrich Williams suffered an ankle injury last Saturday against the Thunder. They head home carrying a five-game losing streak and will have a tough time against Doncic.

The Mavericks are on a tear right now, thanks to Luka Doncic. With the Slovenian youngster getting better and better every day, the Mavericks are one of the surprise teams this season. Look for Dallas to surprise the Pelicans at home behind another stellar effort from Luka Doncic.

Prediction: Dallas Mavericks

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Other Bets to Make

The Mavs are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games played. Dallas is 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games played on the road. The Pels are 1-4 ATS in their last five games played. New Orleans is 6-4 ATS in 10 home games played this season, 1-6 ATS in their last seven December games, and 2-4 ATS in their last six Tuesday games. Head to head, the Mavericks are 3-1 ATS in their last four games played against the Pelicans.

Dallas should have the edge here because New Orleans’ frontline is thin with Derrick Favors continuing to miss the action and Kenrich Williams suffering a sprained ankle last Saturday. Dallas has played well against the spread in their last 8 games and they have covered well on the road this season. The Mavs are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against the Western Conference. New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in their last five games against their Western Conference rivals. I like the Mavs to cover against a struggling Pelicans team.

Prediction: Mavericks -4

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The total has gone over in 13 out of the last 18 games played by the Mavericks. The over is 7-2 in Dallas’ nine road games played this season and the over is also 7-1 in their last eight games played against the Southwest Division. The total has gone under in nine out of the last 13 games played by the Pelicans. New Orleans has seen the total go under in six out of their last seven games played at home. Head to head, the total has gone over in seven out of the last eight games played by these two teams. The over is 6-1 in the last seven games between these two teams in New Orleans.

These teams have combined to score an average of 233.3 points per game in their last 10 meetings and 239.67 points per game in their last three head to head encounters. The Mavs have scored 118.9 points per 100 possession in their last 10 games while the Pelicans have scored 110.0 points per 100 possessions over the same period. New Orleans ranks 5th in pace and with Dallas a willing partner, this game should see the total hit the over.

Prediction: Over 233

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