The Dallas Mavericks will look to stop the bleeding this Saturday, with Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat coming to town. Will the Mavs ambush Miami? Or, will the Heat add to the woes of Dallas?
Catch this game live on Saturday, January 21, at 8:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Miami Heat (25-21/11-12 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Kyle Lowry
- SG: Tyler Herro
- SF: Caleb Martin
- PF: Jimmy Butler
- C: Bam Adebayo
Miami can conclude its short three-game road trip with a winning record when it takes on the Mavs this Saturday. After losing in Atlanta last Tuesday, 121-113, the Heat destroyed the New Orleans Pelicans in the Big Easy on Thursday, 124-98. The Heat seem to love being in Dallas, considering that they have won eight of their last 10 visits there, dating back to 2012. They have also covered the spread in those games eight times.
Bam Adebayo starred for Miami in the win over the Pels, scoring 26 points, while the Heat’s bench also came alive. Miami reserves racked up 49 points. Miami’s backups are averaging just 28.0 points per game, the second-fewest in the NBA, so it’s a good sign for the Heat to get that kind of production before going to Dallas where they have had plenty of success over the last several years. It’s the Heat’s defense, though, that is carrying Miami. It’s allowing only 108.6 points per game and 110.8 points per 100 possessions, second and fourth overall in the league, so far.
The Heat are 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games away from South Beach.
Home: Dallas Mavericks (24-22/16-7 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Luka Doncic
- SG: Spencer Dinwiddie
- SF: Dorian Finney-Smith
- PF: Christian Wood
- C: Dwight Powell
The losses are piling up for Luka Doncic and the Mavs. For the third-straight game, they have allowed at least 130 points following their 130-122 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks at home on Thursday. Luka Doncic scored 30 points with eight assists and four rebounds, while Christian Wood had 22 points and nine rebounds. Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in 20 points. Overall it was a solid offensive outing for the Mavs. They simply just couldn’t get it together defensively.
That said, the Heat aren’t an offensive juggernaut. Miami is just a sub-20 team in terms of scoring offense, field-goal shooting percentage, 3-point percentage, and points per 100 possessions. With the Heat playing their third road game in four days, fatigue could be a bigger factor. Miami is the seventh-oldest team in the NBA this season. Conversely, the Mavericks’ offense is one of the most efficient overall, ranking fifth with 115.0 points per 100 possessions. They have scored at least 119 points in each of their last three outings.
The Mavs are 4-3 ATS in their last seven home games.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: The Heat (-1.5) cover the spread.
Over/Under: The total (217.5) hits the Over.
