Dallas Mavs Top 3 Betting Picks vs. Utah Jazz: Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively II, Lauri Markkanen
Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks hit the road to take on Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz to open the New Year on Monday night.
The Mavs are coming off a 132-122 win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday to snap their two-game skid. Doncic led the way with yet another monster performance, finishing with 39 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists on 14-of-29 shooting from the floor.
The Jazz closed out 2023 with an impressive victory over the Miami Heat on Saturday night, 117-109. Collin Sexton led Utah with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting while rookie Keyonte George added 21 points off the bench.
Notable Injuries
Mavericks: Luka Doncic (left quad soreness), Kyrie Irving (right heel contusion), Dante Exum (right heel contusion), and Seth Curry (illness) are questionable. Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) is out.
Jazz: No notable injuries.
Check out the the betting lines and player props below, courtesy of SI Sportsbook.
The Lines
Point Spread: Mavericks (-4.5) / Jazz (+4.5)
Money Line: Mavericks (-188) / Jazz (+150)
Over/Under: 246.5
Player Props / Our Picks
Luka Doncic O/U 43.5 Points + Assists: Over
Doncic continues his historic tear, averaging 37.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game over the last month. With the Jazz being smaller than most teams on the perimeter, look for Doncic to continue his hot streak on Monday.
Dereck Lively II O/U 2.5 Steals + Blocks: Under
Though Lively's presence at the rim continues to be an asset for Dallas, his block numbers have decreased as of late. Over his last five games, Lively has only blocked two total shots and has collected zero steals. Take the under.
Lauri Markkanen O/U 32.5 Points + Rebounds: Over
Markkanen is averaging 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds on the year for Utah with two 30-point efforts and four 10+ rebound performances over the last six games. Take the over.
Prediction: Starting the New Year on the road, look for the Mavs to begin 2024 off on the right foot with a victory led by Doncic's hot play. Take Dallas -4.5.