PREMIUM
Rogers' Friday Night ESPN SHOWCASE >> BIG TV WINNER!
(NBA) Dallas vs. Utah,
Point Spread: 11.50 | -110.00 Dallas (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 11.50 | -110.00 Dallas (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 6-19 Dallas Mavericks own the worst record in the NBA (actually, they are tied with the 76ers for the worst record) and travel to Salt Lake City Friday night to take on the 16-10 Utah Jazz. The Jazz haven't made the postseason since 2012 but are currently occupying first place in the Northwest Division and are looking very much a Western Conference playoff squad. ax for the Mavs, not so much!
Dallas: The Mavs remain without center Andrew Bogut (3.8 & 10.4) who is out with a knee injury and fill-in Salah Mejri went down with an ankle injury against the Pistons. "I hope nothing bad," Mejri told reporters. "We don't need another injured center. We had an X-ray and it didn't show anything bad. We'll see how it is and hope to be good." Injuries have been a season-long issue for the Mavericks, who are without point guard J.J. Barea (16.3 & 5.4 APG) for another month with a calf injury while power forward Dirk Nowitzki (12.2 & 6.4) is sidelined with an Achilles injury, indefinitely. Nowitzki has been out 17 games, Barea has been sidelined for 14 games and Bogut has been out for four contests. PG Deron Williams (12.5 & 6.5 APG also missed eight games with a calf strain earlier in the season. The lack of healthy players has made it tough for Dallas to generate positive momentum.
Utah: The Jazz have been devoid of injuries themselves but SG Rodney Hood (16.1) returned from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury to score 25 points and match his season best of five three-pointers In Wednesday's 109-89 win over the Thunder. Point guard George Hill (20.0 & 4.2 APG) will likely to sit out for the eighth consecutive game with a toe injury but is moving closer to a return. PF Derrick Favors (9.9 & 6.3) had four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes against the Thunder after missing the previous 13 games with a knee injury Alec Burks (13.3 LY) hasn't played all season. However, the Jaz have powered through all the injuries led by Hayward (22.9-6.2-3.7) and a defense which ranks first in points allowed (95.2) and opponents' FG percentage (42.8%).
The pick: On paper this looks like a play on Utah but Dallas has won 10 of the last 13 games with Utah overall, plus the Mavs have been more competitive lately in going 6-4 ATS their last 10. This is a huge number for the Jazz to lay. Take the points and make Dallas an 8* play.
Dallas: The Mavs remain without center Andrew Bogut (3.8 & 10.4) who is out with a knee injury and fill-in Salah Mejri went down with an ankle injury against the Pistons. "I hope nothing bad," Mejri told reporters. "We don't need another injured center. We had an X-ray and it didn't show anything bad. We'll see how it is and hope to be good." Injuries have been a season-long issue for the Mavericks, who are without point guard J.J. Barea (16.3 & 5.4 APG) for another month with a calf injury while power forward Dirk Nowitzki (12.2 & 6.4) is sidelined with an Achilles injury, indefinitely. Nowitzki has been out 17 games, Barea has been sidelined for 14 games and Bogut has been out for four contests. PG Deron Williams (12.5 & 6.5 APG also missed eight games with a calf strain earlier in the season. The lack of healthy players has made it tough for Dallas to generate positive momentum.
Utah: The Jazz have been devoid of injuries themselves but SG Rodney Hood (16.1) returned from a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury to score 25 points and match his season best of five three-pointers In Wednesday's 109-89 win over the Thunder. Point guard George Hill (20.0 & 4.2 APG) will likely to sit out for the eighth consecutive game with a toe injury but is moving closer to a return. PF Derrick Favors (9.9 & 6.3) had four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes against the Thunder after missing the previous 13 games with a knee injury Alec Burks (13.3 LY) hasn't played all season. However, the Jaz have powered through all the injuries led by Hayward (22.9-6.2-3.7) and a defense which ranks first in points allowed (95.2) and opponents' FG percentage (42.8%).
The pick: On paper this looks like a play on Utah but Dallas has won 10 of the last 13 games with Utah overall, plus the Mavs have been more competitive lately in going 6-4 ATS their last 10. This is a huge number for the Jazz to lay. Take the points and make Dallas an 8* play.
