Basketball Playoffs Betting – Game 2 – Thunder at Mavericks. The Dallas Mavericks are 5.5 point favorites in basketball playoffs betting at Sbgglobal on Thursday as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
The Mavericks outscored the Thunder 1 by a score of 121-112 on Tuesday to win Game 1. The Mavericks have been excellent at home in the playoffs and they are expected to win again in NBA basketball playoffs betting.
Dallas 5.5, total 199.5
The line in NBA basketball playoffs betting for Game 2 is not that much different on the side as the Game 1 number was Dallas -6. There is a major difference on the total though. Oddsmakers still can’t make a good total for NBA games and after Game 1 they have adjusted the number five points. The total for Game 1 was 194.5 but for Game 2 it is 199.5. Four of the last five games between the two games have gone over the total so it would seem like the total would be higher.
Nowitzki Magic
The performance by Dirk Nowitzki in Game 1 against Oklahoma City was one for the ages. He had 48 points on only 15 shots. He set an NBA record though with 24 straight free throws. He made 12 of his 15 shots and was simply unstoppable.
Westbrook’s Struggles
The Mavericks know how to play against Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook. He was a pathetic 3 for 15 from the floor in Game 1 and it is not the first time he has struggled against Dallas. Westbrook averaged just 14.6 points per game against the Mavericks in the regular season and that was the lowest average he had against any team. The Thunder is depending far too much on Westbrook for secondary scoring behind Durant and when he struggles they don’t win.
Game Notes
Dallas shot 53.4 percent from the field in Game 1 but Oklahoma City still hung around and only lost by nine. Kevin Durant had 40 points in a losing effort for the Thunder. Looking at the basketball playoffs betting numbers for Thursday we find that the Thunder is 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games while the Mavericks are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 home games. The Mavericks are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games as a favorite. The Over is 4-1 in the Mavericks last 5 home games in NBA basketball playoffs betting.