NBA betting odds favor the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday as they host the San Antonio Spurs in a game that can be seen on TNT. The two teams met in the last game of the regular season and it appeared that the Spurs handed that game to the Mavericks so they would meet in the first round of the playoffs. The Mavericks are the second seed in the Western Conference and they are favored in basketball betting against the 7th seeded Spurs.
NBA betting odds predict a very good series between the Mavericks and the Spurs. Even though Dallas is a number two seed they are not a huge favorite in this series against San Antonio. Perhaps San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich knew what he was doing in the regular season finale when he rested Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili against the Mavericks. “The way it unfolded, it looks like they want to play us and so they got us, you know?” Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle said. “You never know all the motivations. Airplane fuel is expensive — you know, it’s a short trip.”
The Spurs and Mavericks know each other well. This will be the second straight year they have met in a first-round playoff series and it is the third time in the last five years they have met in the playoffs. “Portland would have been a long flight, so I think that’s a plus. “ Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki said, “Both teams don’t have to travel a lot, both teams know each other pretty good, so it should be a long, grind-it-out type series with tough, physical play, and we should be ready.” Last year the Mavericks routed the Spurs four games to one but Ginobili was out and Duncan was hurt.
The Spurs are 18-7 vs. the NBA betting line in their last 25 games overall. The Spurs are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Spurs are 0-5 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Dallas.
The Mavericks are 5-1 vs. the basketball betting point spread in their last 6 Conference Quarterfinals games. The Mavericks are 7-28-1 ATS in their last 36 home games.
Six of the last eight San Antonio road games have gone under the total. Six of the last seven Dallas home games have gone under the total.