Nets vs Mavericks Picks and Odds

• The Brooklyn Nets try to snap a 3-game losing streak as they visit the Dallas Mavericks
• Dallas has won seven of their last nine games
• Get the latest Nets vs Mavericks odds, betting preview and a pick below

We still don’t know if and when the Brooklyn Nets will be whole when the playoffs come around.

What we are starting to see, however, is that it’s not going to be as easy as many predicted once they get there.

Losers of three straight, including the last two in a mini-set with the Bucks, Brooklyn tries to snap the streak against a Dallas squad that just put a beating on the Miami Heat to win their fourth in five games.

Nets vs Mavericks Odds

Odds as of May 5. Tipoff is Thursday at 7:30pm ET

Nets Swept by Bucks

When their Big 3 is on the court, there’s no denying Brooklyn has the talent to beat anyone in the NBA. But the trio of James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have only played together seven total games, and that may be the final regular season total if Harden can’t come back from a nagging hamstring injury. Tuesday’s loss to the Bucks was the 15th straight game he’s missed.

Around
the
𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹 pic.twitter.com/kwF2Dy8Nar

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) May 5, 2021

Durant and Irving were again brilliant, combining for 70 points against in a 124-118 loss to Milwaukee, but only three other players were able to hit double digits. That top-heavy formula was evident in the first matchup as well, a 117-114 Bucks win, where Durant went for 42, and Irving 20, with Landry Shamet the only other Net to post more than 11 points.

The three straight losses have come to teams that are playoff bound, and have moved Brooklyn’s scoring clip just low enough (113.7 points a game over that stretch ranks 14th), that they can’t outscore their defensive lapses, as they are surrendering better than 123 points a night.

Amazing sequence here that’s emblematic of the overall competitiveness of this game. Giannis blocks Kevin Durant’s midrange pull-up, but Jeff Green recovers the ball in the corner and finds Kyrie Irving for the catch-and-shoot 3. pic.twitter.com/C3R0MZCo14

— Positive Residual (@presidual) May 2, 2021

There’s also criticism stemming from head coach Steve Nash’s decision to not call a timeout during a game-changing 18-1 run in the fourth quarter last game, opting to let the team play through the issues. That being said, the Nets still shot 43.5% from three point range, drilling 37 threes across two games and lost. It took elite play from Giannis and co to eke out wins.

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Luka Gets Help

Luka Doncic is a one-man wrecking crew, but he’s so much more devastating when his teammates are cooking as well.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (36 PTS, 44.3 FPTS) drains a career-high 10 THREES in the @dallasmavs dub 👌 pic.twitter.com/C19OO8SXBS

— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) May 5, 2021

Tuesday was one of those nights, when Tim Hardaway Jr, who was questionable for the game against the Heat with a wonky ankle, showed up in a big way, drilling 10 triples en route to a game-high 36 points. Doncic was low-key brilliant, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

Magician is SCORCHING 🔮✨ pic.twitter.com/o0dKDuR740

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) May 5, 2021

He will definitely need some support Thursday if Dallas wants to sweep the season set with the Nets. Dallas announced that Kristaps Porzingis would be missing his sixth game in seven outings with knee soreness, while fellow starter Maxi Kleber is out with a sore Achilles.

Porzingis was a big factor in Dallas’ 115-98 win on Feb 27. While Doncic led the way with 27 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while KP chipped in 18 and four boards. The win snapped Brooklyn’s 8-game win streak.

What’s the Best Bet?

Dallas needs to keep winning to stay above that play-in line, while Brooklyn is just a game ahead of the Bucks for the 2-seed in the East.

Assuming both Kyrie and Durant suit up, you’ve got to like Brooklyn’s 16-4 run against West opponents in their last 20, and their 4-1 ATS mark against teams in the Southwest Division.

The Mavericks are just 17th in league scoring, but they’ve been making hay on the defensive side of the court, allowing teams to score 107.5 points per game since the all-star break, and letting their young star bring them home.

So expect a lower-scoring affair, with Brooklyn’s star duo making enough plays to outshine Doncic in the crunch.

The pick: Nets ML (-125)

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