Game: Dallas Mavericks @ Indiana Pacers
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Odds: Mavericks -1.5, Pacers +1.5
Total: 234
The Dallas Mavericks’ once-promising season has unexpectedly turned sour in recent weeks, and time is running out for them. Dallas (36-39) has dropped seven of its previous nine games going into tonight’s game against the Pacers in Indianapolis. The Mavs have also lost their last four straight.
Dallas is one game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the race for the final spot in the play-in tournament and currently occupies the 11th spot in the Western Conference. The Thunder beat Portland on Sunday to take over 10th place.
Luka Doncic, a four-time All-Star who picked up his 16th technical foul of the year in Sunday’s 110-104 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, may also be unavailable for the Mavericks. Doncic will be suspended for one game and will not play tonight unless the league office overturns the technical foul. Doncic scored 40 points on Sunday as the Mavericks suffered their second straight loss to Charlotte. Since trading for Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets, Dallas’ record has dropped to 7-13.
The Mavericks will try to bounce back against Indiana (33-42) after starting their five-game road trip with yet another discouraging defeat. Indiana has dropped five of its last seven games. On February 28, Dallas lost its first game against Indiana 124–122. Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 32 points, while Doncic scored a game-high 39 points in the defeat.
On Saturday, the Pacers’ four-game road trip came to an end with a 143-130 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Indiana lost three of the four games, falling three and a half games behind the Chicago Bulls for the final Eastern Conference play-in spot.
The performance of third-year pro Jordan Nwora, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks on February 9, was one positive aspect of Saturday’s defeat. Nwora finished with a season-high 33 points after scoring 25 points in the second quarter against Atlanta. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is excited about his young star. With another great game, Nwora could help Indiana pull the upset tonight at home.
Carlisle has begun to focus more on the future since Indiana’s chances of qualifying for the play-in tournament are dwindling. The Pacers have been concentrating on the growth of young players like Bennedict Mathurin and Nwora over the past week. Indiana is 3.5 games out of 10th place.
The 6-foot-9 Nwora shot 12-of-17 from the field against Atlanta, making 4-of-7 three-pointers. Pacers C Myles Turner might be available on Monday after missing one game due to lower back pain. Turner is shooting 54.8 percent from the field and averaging 18 points and 7.5 rebounds.
The Pacers are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five games. They have been strong against the number at home against Dallas. The Pacers are 13-7 ATS the last 20 times they have hosted the Mavericks. Dallas is 1-4 SU in its last five games. The Mavs are 2-4 SU and ATS in their last six games against Indiana.
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