NBA Handicapping Predictions – Thunder vs Mavs
The Thunder have a 2-0 lead in this series, but in both wins at Oklahoma City the Mavs only lost by a total of 4 points. Kevin Durant struggled with his shot in Game 2, but Russell Westbrook really stepped up with a big scoring night.
Venue/ Stadium: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Time/Date: 9:30 PM EST Thursday, May 3, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: Thunder + 150 / Mavs -170
Spread (ATS): Mavs -3.5
Over/Under: 194.5
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks Preview
This season these teams split the 2 games they faced each other in Dallas. NBA lines have the Mavs as 3.5-favorites with a total of 194.5.
In Game 2 the Thunder beat the Mavs 102-99.
This season the Thunder are 35-33 ATS with an ATS record of 33-35 and the Mavs are 34-34 ATS with an O/U record of 35-33. Dallas covered the spread in both games in this series at Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook is averaging 28.5 ppg in this series and even though Durant is the league scoring title winner and the big gun Oklahoma City was 23-5 this season when their All Star guard takes more shots than Durant.
The Mavs cannot keep Durant and Westbrook down, but they must keep other guys from having big scoring games. In Game 2 James Harden, Kendrick Perkins, and Derek Fisher each had at least 11 points.
Jason Kidd has really struggled with his shot in this series and Jason Terry really needs to step up on offense and help Dirk Nowitzki out. In Game 2 Terry had 13 points, but was only 5/13 from the field. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Brendan Haywood, Kidd, and Delonte West all shot well short of 50% from the floor in Game 2 and these guys need to start shooting the rock better.
Kidd and Terry not only have to score, but they may want to spurn the fast break more, as in Game 2 the Mavs only had 6 fast break points. Kidd also has to be more careful with the rock after his 7-tunrover performance in Game 2.
The Mavs only shot a 3-pt FG% of 21.7% in Game 2 and they must make more long bombs in Game 3 or there is a good chance they will be down 3-0.
In some betting trends for this Western Conference playoff match up the Thunder are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, and they have an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.
The Mavs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. loss, 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record, and they have an Over record of 6-2 in their last 8 games.
Jason’s Pick: Now in Dallas I think the Mavs will put it together and have a good all around game, as they will win this game and cover the spread.
