NBA Betting – Magic vs. Mavericks

November 14, 2008 by Ray M.

Struggling Mavericks Host High Scoring Dwight Howard and the Magic

The Dallas Mavericks (2-6 SU, 2-6 ATS, 4-4 O/U) have lost four consecutive games in the BetUS Sportsbook. The Orlando Magic (5-3 SU, 4-4 ATS, 3-5 O/U) have won five of their last six games overall. Both teams will be looking to pick up a big win for BetUS NBA sports betting enthusiasts when they square off at American Airlines Center tonight in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions.

Now off to their worst eight-game start since opening 1-7 in 1998-99, the Mavericks will look to pick up their first home victory of the season.

Dallas is coming off a disheartening 98-91 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday In which they failed to cover the spread for bettors as 2-point road favorites.

Enigmatic forward Josh Howard led the Mavericks with 23 points but shot just 7-for-23 from the field with superstar Dirk Nowitzki adding just 12 points on 5-for-17 shooting in the loss.

The Mavericks fell apart after taking an emphatic 24-5 lead in less than six minute.

“It’s disappointing. We desperately need a win,” head coach Rick Carlisle said. “I’m just surprised at our lack of fight. I don’t know how else to put it.”

“We don’t play defense,” guard Jason Kidd said. “That’s been our problem. First six minutes we were playing defense and found ourselves up and that was it. We have as many offensive weapons (as anyone) in the league, but we got to find some guys who want to play defense.”

Orlando is coming off a convincing 109-92 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday in which they covered the spread as 8-point road favorites.

Orlando has averaged 104.8 points per game in winning five of their last six.

Dwight Howard recorded his first career triple-double with 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks while point guard Jameer Nelson added 17 points and 10 rebounds.

“I wish he would have had one more rebound. It would have looked really even on the stat sheet – 30, 20 and 10,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “You can’t dominate a game much more than that.”

Howard, who led the NBA last season with 69 double-doubles, currently leads the league with averages of 15.0 rebounds and 4.4 blocks.

“I’m going to try to do this again,” said Howard. “It felt good, trying to block every shot. And I know Coach is very happy.”

Here is a look at the key trends for each team, followed by my in-depth analysis and NBA Free Picks:

The total has gone OVER in 5 of Orlando’s last 5 games when playing Dallas
Orlando is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Orlando is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Orlando’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas’s last 5 games when playing Orlando
Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Orlando
Dallas is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Orlando
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas’s last 5 games when playing at home against Orlando

NBA Odds

Orlando Magic +1 -110
Dallas Mavericks -1 -110

Over 198½ -110
Under 198½ -110

Analysis: The Mavericks just burned me the other night, but I’m going to come back with them again in this matchup as I think they will summon up the strength to finally win their first home game of the season tonight, by actually playing some defense for head coach Rick Carlisle.

Thankfully, the point spread is just a single point.