NBA Betting: Top Picks for Mavs vs. Blazers - Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively II, Derrick Jones Jr.

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to take on the Portland Trail Blazers for the third time this season, DallasBasketball.com identifies the top three betting picks for the game.
NBA Betting: Top Picks for Mavs vs. Blazers - Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively II, Derrick Jones Jr.
NBA Betting: Top Picks for Mavs vs. Blazers - Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively II, Derrick Jones Jr. /
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Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are home to host Jerami Grant and the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

The Mavs are coming off a disappointing 127-90 blowout loss against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Kyrie Irving returned after a 12-game absence, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists on 6-of-14 shooting in 32 minutes.

"I mean, great,” Doncic said when asked about getting Irving back. “Obviously, we wanted to win, but the first game back is always tough. I think everybody relaxed a little bit because we had Kai on the court. I'm very happy, and everybody's happy that he's back. Now we got a big home stretch, so hopefully, everybody's ready."

The Trail Blazers fell to the streaking Phoenix Suns on Monday night, 109-88. No. 2 overall pick Scoot Henderson started his third straight game, finishing with 17 points, three rebounds, and six assists in the loss.

Notable Injuries

Mavericks: Dante Exum (right heel contusion) is doubtful. Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) is out.

Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons (illness), Toumani Camara (right knee soreness), and Duop Reath (low back strain) are questionable. Deandre Ayton (right knee tendinitis) is out.

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Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

Check out the the betting lines and player props below, courtesy of SI Sportsbook.

The Lines

Point Spread: Trail Blazers (+11.5) / Mavericks (-11.5)

Money Line: Trail Blazers +450) / Mavericks (-699)

Over/Under: 237.5

Player Props / Our Picks

Luka Doncic O/U 32.5 Points: Over

After the historic tear that Doncic was on over the last month, he fell back down to earth in Monday's loss to Utah, finishing with just 19 points, his lowest scoring total since Nov. 14. Look for Doncic to get back to regular scheduled programming on Wednesday. 

Luka Doncic's Mavs Plummet in NBA Power Rankings Following Tough Week

Dereck Lively II O/U 9.5 Points: Over

On the season, Lively is averaging 9.0 points per game. In the Dec. 8 matchup against Portland, Lively finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two blocks on 5-of-6 shooting with Ayton missing the game. With Ayton out again on Wednesday, take the over.

Derrick Jones Jr. O/U 1.5 Steals + Blocks: Over

Over the last four games, Jones is averaging 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, with at least one steal and one block in each contest. Look for DJJ to continue making plays on the defensive end.

Prediction: After an ugly loss against the Jazz on Monday, this game against Portland comes at the perfect time as the Mavs begin a 7-game homestand. Take Dallas -11.5.



Published
Michael Mulford
MICHAEL MULFORD

Michael Mulford is a writer/editor for Dallas Basketball, where he extensively covers the Dallas Mavericks. He also covers the Chicago Bulls as the Managing Editor for Bulls Wire of USA Today Sports Media Group. Mulford grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and graduated from the University of North Texas in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Event, and Sports Management. He began his pursuit of sports writing in 2017 with Dallas Sports Fanatic, where he covered the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, Texas Legends. He then became the Managing Editor of Dallas Sports Fanatic just one year later and has covered the Mavericks as a credentialed media member since 2018, including covering numerous playoff games between 2021-22 and covering the team at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in 2019. In his time covering the Mavericks, Mulford has conducted numerous interviews for exclusive stories including with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, former Maverick and current VP of Basketball Ops Michael Finley, former Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson, and more. You can follow and interact with Mulford on Twitter at @TheMulf.