The Dallas Mavericks will look to recover from a brutal loss on Wednesday, as they take on the Toronto Raptors this Thursday. The Raptors, on the other hand, don’t care about the Mavs’ feelings, as their main focus is on keeping their win streak alive.

Catch this game live on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Dallas Mavericks (33-25/15-12 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

• Luka Doncic 
• Kyrie Irving
• Josh Green 
• P.J. Washington
• Dereck Lively II 

Luka Doncic did nearly everything for the Mavs on Wednesday, but his effort ultimately got wasted in a 121-119 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road. After getting Max Strus-ed, Doncic and the Mavs are now on a two-game losing skid, which they will look to end Thursday versus the Raptors. 

Doncic scored 45 points with 14 assists and nine rebounds in 41 minutes in the Cavs game, and given the workload he had in that contest plus the short turnaround from that meeting into the showdown against the Raptors, the Slovenian superstar’s minutes may get managed in Toronto. Still, expect Doncic to be a handful for the Raptors. Doncic nearly scored 50 points against arguably the best defensive team in the league and he’s going from that to facing Toronto’s defense that allowed 242 points in its last two outings. 

Another good sign for the Mavs is the fact that they have a 62.5% (15-9-2) success rate in covering spreads in games following a loss, so far in the 2023-24 campaign. Dallas is also 6-3-0 against the spread when playing on zero days of rest this season.

Home: Toronto Raptors (22-36/12-16 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

• Immanuel Quickley
• Gary Trent Jr.
• RJ Barrett
• Scottie Barnes
• Jakob Poeltl

Darko Rajakovic promised the Raptors early in the season that he would treat them to dinner if they won three games in a row. Imagine what he has in store for his players if they extend their undefeated run to four games with a win against the Dallas at home this Thursday. The Raptors, who are coming off a 130-122 road win over the Indiana Pacers last Tuesday,  are getting a lift from their tremendous offense of late. 

They have averaged 124.7 points on 51.1 % shooting from the field and a scorching 41.8 3FG%. Former New York Knicks Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett will come into the Dallas game with their hands still smoking after shooting 53.8% and 57.1% from the 3-point region in the last three Raptors games, respectively. They could take advantage of a potentially diminished defense of the tired and deflated Mavs squad. Dallas is playing on the second day of a back-to-back and will be fresh off a cross-border travel when it faces the Raptors.

The Raptors are also  4-0 against the spread in their last four games overall.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Raptors (+3) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (239.5) hit the Over.