Before next week’s All-Star break, the NBA has a big Saturday slate on tap with several great matchups on the board. The action starts in the afternoon with a big Rockets-Thunder matchup, and Prime Video gets an early showcase game as well as the Dallas Mavericks head to the Frost Bank Center to take on the San Antonio Spurs at 6:00 p.m. EST. Let’s take a look at the odds on DraftKings Sportsbook and examine my favorite pick for this Saturday matchup.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Spurs are 9.5-point home favorites in the matchup, with the point total set at 229.5. Check out my preview and prediction for today’s Mavericks at Spurs contest.
Mavericks vs. Spurs prediction, preview
This will be the third time these two teams have met this season, with the Spurs winning each of the first two matchups. San Antonio won 125-92 back on October 22 in the first game of the year for each team. The Spurs won on Thursday as well in Dallas, taking down the Mavs 135-123.
Victor Wembanyama led the way in that game with 29 points and 11 rebounds, while No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg continued his scoring binge for Dallas as well. Flagg has scored 30+ points in more games than any other teenager in NBA history, and he joined Michael Jordan, Bernard King, Allen Iverson and Jalen Green as the only rookies to score 30+ points in four straight games since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77.
The Spurs won despite Flagg’s continued excellence and improved to 35-16 on the season, good enough for the second spot in the Western Conference. They are 18-6 on the year at home and have won three straight games over the last week, including a big home win at home against the Thunder.
On Saturday, the Spurs could be without De’Aaron Fox, who is questionable with Bilateral Mid Thoratic soreness. Luke Kornet (Adductor) and Jeremy Sochan (quad) are also questionable.
The Mavericks also have some uncertainty in their rotation after making several moves at the trade deadline. The team listed Brandon Williams (leg) as probable along with recent additions Marvin Bagley III, AJ Johnson and Tyus Jones. Khris Middleton is doubtful along with Ryan Nembhard and Moussa Cisse on their two-way contracts.
Dallas traded Anthony Davis to the Wizards to acquire Middleton, Johnson, Bagley and Malaki Branham, along with two first-round draft picks and three second-round picks. They later flipped Branham to the Hornets for Tyus Jones.
With Nembhard likely unavailable, Jones could contribute right away, although Williams is likely to step back into a significant role after missing the last two games as well. Williams will be joined in his return by P.J. Washington, who missed the last two games with a concussion but is not on Saturday’s injury report.
Mavericks vs. Spurs pick, best bet
While the return of Williams and Washington will definitely give the Mavericks some needed reinforcements, this still seems like a strong spot for the Spurs to continue their recent surge. Flagg has been playing excellent ball and establishing himself as a true rising star in the NBA. However, the Mavs as a whole have still been scuffling. They are 23-27-1 against the spread, while the Spurs are 28-23-1 against the spread. I normally don’t like to give this many points, but the Spurs won by more than this on the road, and I think they’ll cover again at home.
Best bet: San Antonio Spurs -9.5 (-115)
