The Dallas Mavericks (14-23) travel to Salt Lake City for a showdown with the Utah Jazz (12-24) on Thursday. Both of these teams have had underwhelming seasons up to this point. Still, each roster possesses stars and intriguing young talent. All-Stars such as Anthony Davis and Lauri Markkanen will take the court. Up-and-comers such as Cooper Flagg and Keyonte George are in action as well.
Which players are poised to exceed, or fall short, of their totals in this Western Conference showdown? The Mavericks are favored by 6.5 points (+100) over the Jazz, with the over/under set at 239.5 points. Here are two of the top prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s Dallas vs. Utah matchup.
Mavericks vs. Kings prop bet picks
Anthony Davis 26+ points (-105)
Trade rumors are swirling around Anthony Davis, suggesting his time in Dallas is coming to an end. Regardless, the big man hasn’t been moved yet. Until that occurs, he’s still the clear-cut top option on offense for the Mavericks. Through 19 games this season, AD is averaging 20.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 51% from the field. Those numbers, in addition to stellar defense, ensure the 32-year-old plays at least 30 minutes a night.
Thursday presents a golden opportunity for all members of the Mavs to put up points. The Jazz have surrendered an NBA-worst 127.1 points per game to opponents this season. In addition, Dallas is without its starting power forward in P.J. Washington. That means even more reliance on Davis than usual. The Brow has notched at least 26 points in four of his previous five meetings with Utah. Most of those games came with the now-injured Walker Kessler protecting the rim. This vulnerable frontcourt might not stand much of a chance tonight against a future Hall-of-Famer.
Lauri Markkanen under 2.5 three-pointers made (-125)
Speaking of All-Stars, Lauri Markkanen has enjoyed a terrific 2025-26 campaign. This season, the Finnish phenom has accounted for 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists. In addition, he’s delivered quite efficient 48/37/90 shooting splits. Other than the previously mentioned George, there aren’t a ton of mouths to feed in Utah. That gives Markkanen one of the safest floors for production in all of basketball. A lackluster Mavericks defense, even with Davis down low, doesn’t present much of a challenge.
With that being said, Dallas has shown some tenacity when it comes to guarding the perimeter. Opponents are shooting an NBA-worst 33.2% from three-point range vs. the Mavs. In addition, they’ve held teams to the second-fewest three-pointers made per game (11.7). When these clubs last met on December 15th, Markkanen nailed just one shot from beyond the arc. That was despite an otherwise stellar 33-point performance. Even if Utah’s face of the franchise dominates tonight, it probably won’t be from long distance.
