mavericks vs nuggets nba betting prediction
PublishedDecember 18, 2023,            Posted By: Maria Uebelhor
Last updated:December 18, 2023 , ,

NBA: Dallas Mavericks vs Nuggets Prediction 12/18/2023

The Dallas Mavericks (16-9) travel to face off against the Denver Nuggets (17-10) on Monday, December 18th. This game will be played at Ball Arena. The Mavericks are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Nuggets are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Trail Blazers. Tip-off is set for 9:00 ET.

Mavericks vs Nuggetsdallas mavericks

The Mavericks Are Coming Off A Win

In the game against the Trail Blazers, Luka Doncic was the top scorer for Dallas, recording 40 points. His field goal percentage for the game was 49.5%. The Mavericks picked up a 131-120 win, and Tim Hardaway Jr. also added 25 points which was 2nd on the team.

Coming into today’s game, the Mavericks are 16-9 overall and have gone 4-1 in their last five games. The team is currently in 3rd place in the Western Conference and is leading the Southwest division.

Currently, Dallas holds an above .500 ATS record of 14-11 so far this year. As the favorite this season, Dallas is 12-6 vs. the spread while going 2-5 as the underdog.

The Nuggets Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Nikola Jokic scored 24 for Denver against the Thunder which was the most on the team. His field goal percentage for the game was 45.2%. Michael Porter Jr. put up 20 points which was 2nd on the team, but it wasn’t enough as Denver ended up losing the game with a final score of 118-117.

So far this season, the Nuggets are 17-10 overall and are 2-1 in their last three games. In Western Conference play, the Nuggets are 12-8 compared to a 5-2 record in non-conference games.

Denver has an overall ATS record of 11-15 as they come into today’s game. When playing on the road, the Nuggets hold an ATS record of 5-10 in contrast to a 6-5 record against the spread when playing at home.

Mavericks Offense Breakdown

Coming into today’s action, Dallas is averaging 119.9 points per contest. This figure places them 6th in the league. In terms of pace, the Mavericks are one of the top units in the NBA, averaging 99.9 possessions per game. Although the team is playing at an up-tempo speed, they would benefit from scoring with more efficiency, as they are just 15th in the league in overall field goal percentage, at 56%.

Nuggets Offense Breakdown

Through 27 games the Nuggets are averaging 114.7 points per contest, placing them 15th in the NBA. When looking at the team’s pace of play, the Nuggets are currently below the league average in possessions per game, averaging just 96.7 per contest. However, they have been able to make up for this slow style of place by scoring with a high rate of efficiency. This season, they are ranked 4th in made field goals per game.

Mavericks Team Defense

As they prepare for the upcoming game, the Mavericks is focused on shoring up their defense, as they are currently allowing an average of 117.1 points per game (22nd).

When it comes to defending inside the arc, the Mavericks squad is permitting opposing teams to shoot at a clip of 55.3% inside the arc, and they’re also giving up 36.4% from downtown.

Nuggets Team Defensedenver nuggets nba

At this time, the Nuggets’ defense is positioned 6th in the NBA, permitting 110.8 points per game.

In terms of two point field goal attempts, the Nuggets defense has allowed a shooting percentage of 52.2% while allowing 35.8% from downtown.

Key Players For The Mavericks And Nuggets

In today’s game, we anticipate Luka Doncic leading the scoring for the Mavericks, contributing 26 points while shooting 9/19 from the field. This season, he is averaging 32.7 points per game along with 8.3 boards.

On the other side, Nikola Jokic is our projected leading scorer for the Nuggets. We have him ending the game with a team-high 17 and grabbing 7 rebounds. For the season, he has a field goal percentage of 54.1% and is averaging 27 points per contest.

Mavericks vs Nuggets Trends

  • The Mavericks are 3-0 ATS in their three last road games and 3-0 straight-up.
  • In their last five home games, Denver has averaged 116 points per game while allowing 114. The team’s record in this stretch was 3-2 while going 3-2 vs. the spread.
  • In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Mavericks have a straight up record of 1-4 and an ATS mark of 1-4.
  • Going back to their previous ten games as the favorite, Denver has an ATS mark of 5-4-1 while going 6-4 straight up.

Mavericks vs Nuggets Prediction

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +7.5, the Mavericks is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 238.5 and our model has the Mavericks and Nuggets finishing with a combined 223 points. Our pick is to take the under.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.