Dallas (16-7) vs Detroit (10-14)
When: Thursday, December 12th, 2019
Where: Mexico City Arena,
Mexico City
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: FS Southwest
Opening Odds: Dallas -4/221.5
A couple of hot teams will travel south of the border on Thursday, as the Dallas Mavericks meet the Detroit Pistons as part of the Mexico City series. Dallas was cruising along with wins in five straight games and went into Sunday’s contest with Sacramento as 12.5-point favorites but the team got frustrated with the officials and fell to the Kings 110-106. Star Luka Doncic was whistled for a technical foul in the first quarter before visibly losing his cool after a pair of no-calls late in the contest. Doncic needed 24 shots to produce 27 points, as the Mavericks failed to cover the spread for the first time since Nov. 26 and still own a one-game lead over the Houston Rockets in the Southwest Division entering Wednesday’s action. The Pistons have won three of four after a 105-103 road win in New Orleans on Monday after knocking off the Indiana Pacers on Friday. Derrick Rose knocked down the game-winning jumper in Monday’s win after hitting some key shots down the stretch on Friday. The teams split the season series last year in the span of six days and the home team has won each of the last five, but this one will be a neutral site affair.
Doncic leads the team in just about every offensive category you can think of and recorded 19 consecutive games with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. He is averaging 30 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists on the season while shooting a team-best 47.6 percent from the field and 1.3 steals per contest. It was Tim Hardaway, Jr. that led the team with 29 points on a sizzling 10-of-13 shooting in the loss to the Kings including draining 9-of-12 from beyond the arc, where he shoots 38.1 percent for the season. Point guard, who averages 7.5 points and 3.4 rebounds, is not expected to play Thursday due to a groin injury. The Mavs will play Miami on Saturday.
Detroit’s recent surge is because of an increased focus on the defensive end where they rank 12th in the league at 108.2 points a game allowed, but have cut that to 104 or less in eight of their last 10 games. Rose came off the bench on Monday to score 21 points in a season-high 28 minutes and has scored in double-digits in seven straight and 11 of 12. Shooting guard Luke Kennard hits 39.9 percent of his 3-pointers, but was just 1-of-6 on Monday. Center Andre Drummond has pulled down at least 10 rebounds in 23 of 24 games this season and leads the NBA at 16.7 – 1.9 better than anyone else. The Pistons will be at Houston on Saturday.
The Pistons defense is playing well, but the Mavs are the third-highest scoring team in the league and have had three days off to cool-down from Sunday’s setback. Dallas is the much better team and will have more fans in Mexico, making this a virtual home game.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Thursday. He is 29-19-2 on the season!
Pick: Mavericks -5
Mavericks are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games as a favorite.
Mavericks are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Mavericks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Mavericks are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
Mavericks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Mavericks are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Mavericks are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Mavericks are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 games following a ATS loss.
Mavericks are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Pistons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Pistons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pistons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pistons are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Pistons are 5-14-1 ATS in their last 20 games as an underdog.
Pistons are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.
Pistons are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win.
Pistons are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
Pistons are 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Pistons are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 5-1 in Mavericks last 6 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Under is 4-1 in Mavericks last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Mavericks last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Over is 6-2 in Mavericks last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 6-2 in Mavericks last 8 games as a favorite.
Under is 21-8 in Mavericks last 29 Thursday games.
Over is 7-3 in Mavericks last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 15-7 in Mavericks last 22 overall.
Over is 15-7 in Mavericks last 22 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Pistons last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Pistons last 5 games as an underdog.
Over is 8-2 in Pistons last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 16-5 in Pistons last 21 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 8-3 in Pistons last 11 games playing on 2 days rest.
Under is 5-2 in Pistons last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 52-25-1 in Pistons last 78 Thursday games.
Under is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.
