A 25-22 record wasn’t what the Mavericks had in mind entering this season. However, the reigning Western Conference champions have managed to stay in the playoff picture despite numerous injuries. That includes a calf strain suffered by Luka Doncic on Christmas Day; the superstar hasn’t returned to game action since.
What’s kept Dallas afloat during these trying times? The stellar play of Kyrie Irving stands out as a leading factor. Under his leadership, the team has gone 3-4 over its last seven games, including two victories over the Thunder. It’s difficult to feel confident about the Mavs, but they have a puncher’s chance whenever #11 suits up.
Dallas enters tonight’s contest vs. the Pelicans as one-point favorites, with the over/under set at 233.5 points. Here’s the best Irving prop to play on DraftKings Sportsbook before Wednesday night’s game tips off.
Best Kyrie Irving Prop on DraftKings Sportsbook
Irving has dealt with his own health issues, having missed a handful of games this month due to a bulging disk in his back. Since the guard’s return on January 14th, he’s averaged 23.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 45.0% from the field. The veteran has been given a heavy workload during that time, logging at least 38 minutes in five of his seven appearances.
Part of what’s made Kyrie such a great fit in Dallas is his off-ball skills. Without Doncic, the 32-year-old is now forced to serve as more of a creator rather than a shooter. That’s led to fewer three-point attempts and makes over the last two weeks for the eight-time All-Star.
There’s a good chance Irving finds his scoring touch once again on Wednesday. Dallas’ opponent, New Orleans, has given up the sixth-most points (117.9) and the fifth-most three-pointers made (14.1) per game to opponents. However, in this case it’s difficult to trust the numbers, as the Pelicans have been decimated by injuries throughout the season. Now that most of the roster is healthy, it’s fair to expect stiffer opposition for the Mavericks.
With that being said, one area where the Pels have struggled is defending against passes. This season, their defense has allowed 28.3 assists per game to opponents, fifth-worst in the NBA. That number has ballooned to 32.3 over their last three outings. Serving as more of a distributor on Wednesday, Irving should take advantage of this weakness. The guard has dished out at least six assists in each of his last five meetings with New Orleans, most of which came with Doncic playing. Given where both sides are trending heading into this contest, expect the future Hall of Famer to feed his teammates tonight.
Best Bet: Kyrie Irving over 5.5 assists (-120)
