Dallas Mavericks vs Golden State Warriors Point Spread Picks

Golden State winds up a long road stretch, fighting to hang on to the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. They get a boost to the lineup with Moses Moody (11.9 ppg), De'Anthony Melton (13.3 ppg), and Kristaps Porzingis (14.9 ppg) likely to play. Dallas has lost 12 of 14, including the last two at home to Atlanta (135-120) and the Clippers (138-131). Los Angeles shot 57% from the field, while Dallas slipped to 24th in points surrendered (118.7 per game) and 22nd in points allowed per game, and the offense is 24th in points scored and 29th from the line (74.8%). The lottery-bound Mavericks are on a 5-9 ATS run. Play Golden State.

Anthony Davis is heating up, and rookie Cooper Flagg is living up to being the No. 1 overall pick after a slow start. The result is the Mavericks have met or exceeded their season average of 113 points a game in 11 of their last 12 games. Davis is averaging 26.3 points in his previous six games. Flagg just played probably his best all-around NBA game with 33 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, sparking Dallas to a stunning, 131-130, upset win against the Nuggets this past Tuesday. Dallas' 131 points were 15 more than what the Nuggets give up per game. Golden State has scored at least 119 points in five of its last six games. Dallas ranks 18th defensively and is in the bottom four in defensive rebounding. Stephen Curry is tied for 8th in scoring in the NBA, averaging 28.7 points per game. The Warriors are the only one of the 10 teams playing on Christmas Day that didn’t play on Tuesday night. The extra day of rest should help Curry, who has been playing on a tender left ankle. Take the OVER. 

There is just 3.5 games of separation in the NBA Western Conference from being #6 and in the playoffs, or #11 and entirely out of even the play-in round. This is a huge game as both these teams are between those numbers. Dallas is going to find out how things are without Luka Doncic, and they already suffered a blow as newly acquired Anthony Davis is among five Mavs on the injury list. Davis is out for tonight's game. Golden St. has won two straight games, and newly acquired Jimmy Butler finally gives Stephon Curry a star player to run with, and it should help this Golden St. team going forward to strengthen their playoff run. Road favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points - after beating the spread by 18 or more points total in their last three games against opponent after going over the total by 54 or more points total in their last ten games are 36-10 ATS, and favors the Warriors tonight. Golden State is on a 6-1 OVER run and I don't suspect the Mavericks will be able to slow down this pace. Make the play on Golden State ATS, and bet this game to sail OVER the total.