The Dallas Mavericks (10-16) and Utah Jazz (9-15) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. EST from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The game will be broadcast live on KJZZ.
The Mavericks are 1.5-point favorites over the Jazz on the spread (Mavericks -1.5), with the over/under set at 240.5 total points. Dallas is a -120 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Utah is +100 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Mavericks vs. Jazz predictions and NBA picks for Monday, December 15.
My Mavericks vs Jazz Prediction
- Mavericks vs Jazz pick: Over 240.5 (-110)
My Jazz vs Mavericks best bet is on the over total points, with the best price currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Mavericks vs Jazz Odds
| Mavericks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -112 | 240.5 -108o / -112u | -120 |
| Jazz Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -108 | 240.5 -108o / -112u | +100 |
Mavericks vs Jazz NBA Preview
The Mavericks enter tonight's game having won five of their last six games. As a result, they have played themselves into Play-In position and currently hold the 10th seed in the Western Conference.
Anthony Davis has played in the last five games and is averaging 20.8 points, 12 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game in December.
However, Davis is questionable with a left calf contusion tonight, the same calf that cost him 14 games earlier this season.
If he is out, Dallas may be shorthanded in the frontcourt as Dereck Lively II is out once again and Daniel Gafford is questionable with a right ankle injury. Forwards Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington may be needed on the glass a bit more tonight.
They both have recorded at least five rebounds in 18 of their last 20 games. Flagg has also picked it up offensively, as he is averaging 20.4 points per game over his last 10 games. I would expect that to continue against a porous Jazz defense.
The Jazz trailed by double digits on Friday against the Grizzlies, but were able to rally for a 130-126 victory. Keyonte George scored a career-high 39 points on 12-for-20 from the field and 5-for-9 from three and added six rebounds and eight assists.
George may be establishing himself as one of the key players to build around as the Jazz look to emerge from their rebuild. He is averaging 22.9 points and 6.8 assists this season.
In the frontcourt, Lauri Markkanen added 26 points and nine rebounds while Jusuf Nurkic had 13 points and 17 rebounds. Nurkic has been a consistent presence on the glass, ranking 10th in the league with 9.6 rebounds per game, but he will be rested tonight.
The Jazz are percentage points behind the Mavericks for the 10th seed, but have won just four of their 10 games. In that span, they are last in the NBA with a 123 defensive rating. That could lead to another high-scoring game tonight.
Mavericks vs Jazz Prediction, Betting Analysis
This will be the meeting between these teams in over a calendar year and the Mavericks have experienced well-documented roster turnover in that span.
However, the new look Mavericks enter this game 5-2 to the over in their last seven games. In that span included a game in high altitude in Denver that finished with 252 points. Their defense will also take a hit if Davis does get ruled out.
Meanwhile, the Jazz are 7-3 to the over in their last 10 games, which coincides with them allowing 125 points seven times in that span. The over has also hit nine of Utah's 13 home games. With that in mind, we should get more than 240 points tonight.
The Jazz are allowing 24.8 points per game to small forwards, which should be good news for Flagg. The No. 1 overall pick has scored 20 points in five of his last six games.
Brandon Williams has come off the bench of late, but he has had four assists in eight of his last 10 games. Utah is allowing nine assists per game to point guards.
For the Jazz, George is averaging 22.8 points and 6.4 assists over his last 10 games. He has recorded 28 PA in seven of his last 10 games and I like him for at least 25 tonight.
Without Nurkic, I'll be backing Markkanen on the glass. He has had seven rebounds in seven of his last eight games while Dallas is 27th in rebounds allowed this season.
Pick: Over 240.5 Points (-108, DraftKings)
Mavericks vs Jazz Parlay Picks
- Keyonte George 25+ Points + Assists
- Cooper Flagg 20+ Points
- Lauri Markkanen 7+ Rebounds
- Brandon Williams 4+ Assists
Parlay Odds: +480 via DraftKings
