Injury-Depleted Mavericks Down Multiple Starters at Timberwolves
Mavericks vs Timberwolves Preview: Dallas 1-5 ATS in Last Six
Luka Doncic has been on a roll. His recent scoring surge includes a 73-point outburst in Friday’s 148-143 victory over Atlanta. However, the perennial All-Star is one of several Mavericks who may be sidelined for Wednesday’s visit to Minnesota.
With Dallas projected to be down multiple starters, Minnesota opened as a 13.5-point favorite and -1200 on the moneyline. Conversely, the Mavericks are +750 to win outright. The spread is 224.5.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down the odds in our Mavericks vs Timberwolves preview.
Dallas Mavericks at Minnesota Timberwolves 
Date, time:
Location: Target Center: Minneapolis
Streaming: Live Sports Stream
Betting Trends
The Dallas Mavericks are 24-23 ATS, including 13-8 away from home. Dallas is also 25-21-1 against the Over/Under. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves are 23-23-1 ATS, including 11-9-1 at home. The Timberwolves have gone Under the total in five of their last six games and are 22-24-1 against the Over/Under.
Be sure to remember these trends when assessing the odds in our Mavericks vs Timberwolves preview.
Mavs Following Luka’s Lead
The Mavericks have won two of their last three games and are tied with New Orleans atop the Southwest Division at 26-21. They’re coming off a 131-129 win over Orlando on Monday in which Luka Doncic contributed a game-high 45 points and 15 assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 36 points.
Doncic is averaging 37.1 points this month and ranks second in the NBA in scoring (34.7 PPG) behind Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid. He’s on the shortlist of MVP contenders with +650 odds, trailing only Denver’s Nikola Jokic (+115), Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+350), and Embiid (+450).
However, Doncic has already been ruled out for Wednesday’s game because of a sprained right ankle. The Mavericks will also be without Kyrie Irving (right thumb sprain) and rookie Dereck Lively II (broken nose). Their two remaining starters, Dante Exum (right knee bursitis) and Derrick Jones Jr. (left wrist sprain), are listed as doubtful.
Despite the Mavericks’ hot start, oddsmakers remain skeptical of them being a legitimate contender. They’re still just +1900 to win the Western Conference, behind the likes of the Lakers (+1200). As for the NBA title, they’re a 40/1 longshot.
Irving, Dallas’ second-leading scorer, hasn’t played since Jan. 22. It’s uncertain when he will return. Josh Green has seen an uptick in usage during his absence but is averaging just 10.5 points over the last four games. Dallas is 2-2 during that stretch.
Dallas has failed to cover in five of its last six games, including on Monday as a 4-point favorite. Interestingly, the Mavericks have fared better ATS on the road (13-8) compared to at home (11-15). Keep that in mind when analyzing the odds in our Mavericks vs Timberwolves preview.
T’Wolves Climb Atop the West
The Timberwolves are sitting atop the West NBA standings with a record of 33-14 following Monday’s 107-101 victory over Oklahoma City. Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 27 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
Despite holding the conference’s best record, Minnesota is +900 to win the West. The Nuggets (+220), Clippers (+310) and Suns (+550) all have shorter odds at the moment. The Timberwolves are also 20/1 to win the Finals.
Minnesota is the league’s best defensive team, holding opponents to an average of 107.4 points. It’s also tied for first in opponent’s shooting percentage (44.9) and is fourth in defensive rebounding rate, led by Rudy Gobert averaging 9.1 per game. The Timberwolves also have the sixth-best points differential (plus-5.4).
The Timberwolves are relatively healthy except Mike Conley Jr, who sat out Monday because of a hamstring injury. The veteran point guard is listed as questionable on the injury report.
Minnesota is just 2-4 ATS over its last six games and has gone Under the total five times during that span.
Handicapping the Game
This is the fourth meeting between the teams this season. Dallas lost the first two matchups but responded with a 115-108 victory on Jan. 8 behind 35 points from Irving.
The Mavericks’ depleted lineup obviously complicates things. This is just the second time this season they’ve been a double-digit underdog, with the first coming Dec. 28, also against Minnesota. A 12-point underdog without Doncic, they wound up losing 118-112.
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