The Dallas Mavericks look to snap a three-game skid on Friday as they host the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs are fresh off their eighth consecutive double-digit win, boasting a 9-0 record against Western Conference opponents this season.
The Cavaliers’ dominant defense and deep scoring arsenal make this a tough matchup for Dallas, especially with Luka Doncic sidelined due to a calf strain. P.J. Washington is also questionable to play due to a right knee sprain. Irving will be needed to shoulder the scoring load and keep Dallas competitive.
Here’s a featured Irving prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook to consider for Friday’s game in Dallas.
Best Kyrie Irving Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Kyrie Irving Over 26.5 Points (-120)
Irving has averaged 25.1 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 10 games without Doncic this season. With Doncic out, Irving becomes the focal point of Dallas’ offense, increasing his shot volume and offensive responsibility. Again, that’ll only intensify if Washington becomes ruled out.
In his lone matchup against Cleveland last season, Irving posted 30 points, six rebounds, and three assists. However, the Cavaliers’ defense has improved even further this year, with Evan Mobley recently being named the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month. With Cleveland being a bigger team, Irving can use his quickness to get to his spots, often in mid-range to take pull-ups. If his jumper is falling, his outlook is favorable. Dallas went 1-3 on its road trip as well. Irving will surely want to set the tone to help avoid this becoming a concerning mid-season slide.
Irving scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and added three steals against Houston on Wednesday. Despite his efforts, the Mavericks struggled with turnovers, coughing up the ball 20 times, which led to 22 points for the Rockets. Irving faced frequent double-teams, forcing him into tough shots and limiting his playmaking opportunities. Dallas will try to clean up handling double teams and tighten ball control.
“They’re a good defensive team. At least half of those were self-inflicted, though,” Klay Thompson said after the loss in Houston. “Myself, I had a couple I wish we could get back. When they double the pick-and-roll, we just get off the ball a little quicker and hit the other man.”
Irving’s scoring ability thrives in moments like these, where he can exploit mid-range jumpers and pull-ups to counter drop coverage when that approach is deployed. He also can beat defenders on an island when switching happens with his change of pace. Cleveland deploys a smaller perimeter as well, which could present some opportunity for Irving against base matchups to put up points at least individually.
With Cleveland’s defensive focus on protecting the paint, Irving’s offensive skill set makes him well-positioned to clear the 26.5-point mark. Keep in mind that there is a risk involved here. The Cavaliers are a great team that could overwhelm a shorthanded opponent, which could impact Irving’s production.
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