New Orleans Pelicans vs Dallas Mavericks NBA Picks, Odds, Predictions 3/27/21
2021-03-27 21:00:00 EDT
The Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans duke it out at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday night.
The Dallas Mavericks have been in great form as they’ve won eight of their past 12 games, but they will be hoping to bounce back here after getting routed by the Pacers in a 109-94 home loss last night. Kristaps Porzingis le the team with 31 points, 18 rebounds and three assists, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 16 points off the bench while Josh Richardson chipped in with 11 points. As a team, the Mavericks shot just 41 percent from the field and eight of 35 from the 3-point line as they fell behind by double digits in the second quarter, before getting blown out in the fourth quarter where they managed just 19 points. Luka Doncic sat out the game with lower back soreness but could be available for Saturday.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans have been in decent shape as they’ve won four of their past seven games, but they will be aiming to bounce back after having their two-game win streak halted by the Nuggets in a 113-108 home loss last night. Zion Williamson led the team with 39 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks, Eric Bledsoe added 16 points with nine assists, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 14 points while Brandon Ingram chipped in with just 13 points and five assists on five of 17 shooting. As a team, the Pelicans shot 50 percent from the field and 12 of 29 from the 3-point line as they set the tone with 63 points in the first half to lead at halftime, before going ice-cold in the second half where they scored just 45 points to allow the Nuggets to run them down.
Looking at the betting trends, the Mavericks are 6-16 ATS in their last 22 games against a team with a losing record and 1-5 ATS in their last six games playing on zero days’ rest. The Pelicans are 5-1 ATS in their last six games against a team with a winning record and 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
Head to head, the over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings overall, the Mavericks are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in New Orleans and the Mavericks are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings overall.
Doncic isn’t listed on the injury report, so he could be back for the Mavericks, but there is a cloud over Porzingis who is uncertain about his status after logging 38 minutes last night. The Pelicans have were playing some of their best basketball of the season before getting stopped by the Nuggets in their last outing and they will take so much confidence from Williamsons’ recent form. The Mavericks are only 6-16 ATS in their last 22 games against a team with a losing record and this looks like a dangerous game, especially if they’re not at full strength, so I’m taking the Pelicans with the points at home.
