Despite not having Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks keep beating the Oklahoma City Thunder, and they’ve at least kept themselves in the play-in tournament mix at the No. 9 seed in the West.
On Monday, the Mavs have a must-win game against the Washington Wizards, who have the worst record in the NBA and should be sellers at the trade deadline.
Washington has dropped 13 games in a row and is just 1-20 on the road, leading to the Mavs being heavily favored on Monday night.
Can they pick up a win – and cover the spread – against the league’s worst team?
Here’s a breakdown of the odds, players to watch in the prop market, and my prediction for this interconference battle.
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Spread
Moneyline
Total
After a 30-point game in his last matchup, Kyle Kuzma made some eye opening comments about the 2024-25 season and his play.
Asked what he meant by not trying to fit in, Kuzma said, “I mean just not trying to fit into what we’re trying to do here. Just being more assertive, demanding the ball, not just going out there and trying to let people develop. Just playing my game.”
Kuzma finished with a… https://t.co/sygK4eSyFn
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) January 26, 2025
Does Kuzma play the same way tonight? He did attempt 24 shots in his last game, and that usage alone would make him a great bet at this number. Overall, Kuz is averaging just 14.6 points per game, but his usage and efficiency have plummeted this season.
If the loss to Phoenix was a turning point, he’s certainly worth a bet at this number.
PJ Washington has been huge on the glass as of late for Dallas, pushing his season average to 8.1 rebounds per game.
The Mavs forward finished with 14 rebounds in a recent game against New Orleans and 19 in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. This is a great matchup, as the Wizards rank dead last in opponent rebounds per game and 29th in rebounding percentage.
With Lively, Kleber and Doncic out, PJ should step up in a big way on the boards.
The Wizards are just 7-12-2 against the spread as road underdogs this season, posting an average scoring margin of -14.4 points per game in those matchups.
While Dallas is down several key rotation players, it’s been clear all season the Wizards are prioritizing development – even their own players are coming out and admitting it.
Washington ranks dead last in the NBA in offensive, defensive, and net rating (-13.7), and it should have a hard time keeping up with Dallas’ No. 8 offense.
The Mavericks have not played well without Doncic, but they’ve flashed periods of being able to stay afloat with him – like in their win over OKC.
Dallas is a respectable 8-7 against the spread when favored at home. Against the NBA’s worst team, I’ll lay the points with the Mavs.
Pick: Mavs -12 (-108)
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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Find Peter Dewey’s NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.
Feb 13, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Mark Cuban laughs during the second half of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat at American Airlines
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