NBA Betting G4: Warriors vs Mavericks Game Preview

Luka Doncic has put up consecutive 40-point games to no avail. Now, his Dallas Mavericks face elimination as the Golden State Warriors are one win away from returning to the NBA Finals after three grueling years. The Warriors vs Mavericks game preview outlines if the Warriors’ ‘desire to return to the NBA Finals’ can trump the Mavericks’ ‘will to survive’.

Warriors vs Mavericks Game 4 Info

• Game: Golden State Warriors (53-29) vs Dallas Mavericks (52-30)
• Location: American Airlines Center
• Day/Time: Tuesday, 9:00 p.m. ET
• Television: TNT

The Warriors 2.0 are Still The Same Dynasty

If you fell into a coma right after their 2019 NBA Finals and woke up today, you may not recognize most of the players on the Golden State Warriors. But you will find solace seeing the “Big Three” of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.

The Warriors vs Mavericks game preview shows the same core as their version that went to five straight NBA Finals from 2015 to 2019. The team has pivoted and has used the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole to replace other contributors on the team. But in their essence, Golden State is still the same juggernaut that revolutionized the modern NBA offense while playing lockdown defense.

Golden State whipping the Mavericks has shades of them beating another certain superstar who is now playing with the Lakers. The Warriors have a nice cushion over the Mavericks and whether they lack the urge to finish them off or not, it is clear this team is two tiers above Dallas.

The Mavericks’ Luka Doncic “Dilemma”

That one man we were alluding to is no other than LeBron James. For half a decade, James terrorized the NBA until he ran into the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Now, Luka Doncic faces the same issue as his consecutive 40-point performances still culminated in losses for his Dallas Mavericks.

Doncic is the best offensive player in the NBA. Whether it’s by statistics or “eye test”, Doncic is on another level when he’s balling on the court. But basketball is a team game and even with the likes of Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie chipping in, Dallas has failed to beat Golden State.

It’s not just Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber going 0-of-15 in their field goal attempts. Dallas has become dependent on Doncic’s phenomenal skills on offense. It’s akin to the Cavaliers caught watching James as he deadlifted the team to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances.

Bring Out the “Elimination Game Luka”

Of the many forms of Luka Doncic, he turns into quite another beast under elimination games. In his career, Doncic has averaged 38 points per game, 9.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists while shooting 53.8 percent from the field. Outside of the scoring stats, the 8.8 assists is the big number as Dallas performs much better when Doncic is getting everyone involved.

Check this for NBA betting tips: Dallas is 4-2 in the playoffs this year when Doncic has at least eight assists but only 2-5 when he has less than that. If Doncic can be more of a facilitator than a scorer, the Mavericks should be able to at least win Game 4.

Warriors vs Mavericks Betting Trends

In the last six Golden State Warriors games against the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State has covered 4 of the last six spreads. Golden State is 6-4 against the spread (ATS) versus Dallas in its last 10 games.

The total has gone under in eight of the last 10 games between the Warriors and Mavericks in Dallas. Two of the last three have gone under with the average total score being 208.3 points.

Dallas’s last five home games have gone under. The Mavericks have a 104.5 defensive rating at home and are allowing the lowest effective field goal percentage at just 49 percent.

Stephen Curry has averaged 28.8 points and 6.2 points in 12 career games against Luka Doncic. Golden State has won seven of these games including all three in the playoffs. Be sure to check out every Warriors vs Mavericks game preview.