After another fun night of NBA Cup action on Friday, the NBA has five games on the scoreboard this Saturday. The Dallas Mavericks visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in one of the top matchups on the board. The Cavs lost in Miami to start their back-to-back, and they’ll look to get a win at home on Saturday. The Mavericks were off Friday after suffering a 39-point loss in Minnesota on Thursday. The Mavericks slid to 7-5 with the loss, while the Cavs are 6-7 after their loss. Which team will bounce back this Saturday at Rocket Arena?
Read on for a full preview, prediction and pick for Saturday’s Mavericks at Cavaliers matchup, courtesy of odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Mavericks at Cavaliers prediction, preview
The Cavaliers got a big win against the Knicks on Wednesday before losing on Friday. They’re only 2-6 in November, but they have an extensive injury report since they’re playing for the second night in a row. In addition to Evan Mobley (toe) and Sam Merrill (elbow) remaining out, the team listed Jarrett Allen (knee), James Harden (leg), Donovan Mitchell (knee) and Peyton Watson (hamstring) as questionable.
With Mobley out on Friday, the guards carried the workload, with Mitchell scoring 25 points and Harden scoring 20 points. Tyrese Proctor came off the bench with 22 points in 27 minutes. If Mitchell, Harden or both are out on Saturday, Proctor could be in line for more work. Jaylon Tyson started in place of Mobley and had 16 points, three rebounds and an assist. He could also be in for more work depending on who else is available. If Allen is out, Thomas Bryant would pick up the minutes in the middle, while Mario Hezonja could also get more time at forward if Watson is out.
It’s hard to be sure exactly what the Cavs rotation will look like with so many injuries, but the Mavs rotation is a little more settled. They won’t have Sergio de Larrea or Dereck Lively, while Max Christie is also doubtful. Morez Johnson Jr. is probable, while Caleb Martin has already been listed as available.
The key to the Mavericks’ offense has been Cooper Flagg, who has been exceptional this season, averaging 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists. He had a down game in the blowout loss to the Timberwolves but went off for a huge game on Monday at home against the Pacers, finishing with 43 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block in 39 minutes. The 19-year-old continues to be one of the most exciting young stars in the game, and he’ll look to get his team a road win to bounce back after getting smashed in Minnesota.
It will also be a return to Cleveland for Kyrie Irving, who started his NBA career with the Cavs in 2011. He played six games in Cleveland since leaving the team in 2017, and he has averaged 31.0 points, 5.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 39.1 minutes per game. He had 30 points in February 2024, the only time he faced them since joining the Mavs.
Mavericks at Cavaliers pick, best bet
DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Mavericks as 4.5-point road favorites with -196 odds on the Moneyline. The Cavaliers are a +164 underdog to win outright at home with the total set at 228.5 combined points.
Even if the Cavaliers have most of their rotation available, there could definitely be some fatigue issues after playing a tough game on the road on Friday. With most of the starting lineup uncertain, it’s very hard to pick them to get the win, since it could quickly turn into a bench game.
The Mavs have the better overall record and will look to bounce back from their bad loss to the Timberwolves by getting this road win. Whether they face the full squad or not, Flagg and Irving should be able to help the Mavs bounce back with a win, and this game could be especially meaningful to Irving based on his history with the city.
