Game Time: 7:30 PM ET, Sunday, February 27th, 2022 

Venue:  Chase Center, San Francisco, California

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Spread: Warriors -4

BetOnline:  Spread:  Warriors -4

VegasInsider:  Spread: NL

WynnBet: Spread:  
Opening Line:  Warriors -6

Mavericks: 35-25, 5th place Western Conference

Warriors:  43-17, 2nd place Western Conference

A Western Conference battle between the reinvigorated young “best player in the game” and the constant excellence of the “best shooter to ever strap on sneakers”.  Sure, both teams have more players on the roster… even more great players on Golden State.  So, it’s never really one great p[layer against another great player… but at the end of the day in the NBA it sort of always is.  The Dallas Mavericks are a good team.  They are in the Western Conference playoff hunt… they pulled off a trade that unloaded star C/PF Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards for role players… and the biggest part of the trade was the coming salary cap flexibility they will have.  The Mavericks' actual star is of course PG Luka Doncic.  He is truly a top-3 player in the league.  His stats across the board are 27.4 ppg, 9.0 apg, and 9.1 rpg.  His usage and PER are off the charts.  The only thing Luka needs to fill the LeBron role in the coming years of the NBA is a few high quality players to play with.  Right now the Mavericks are winning games with Luka surrounded by a squadron of NBA role players… They are all quality role players… but not a star in the bunch.  The Warriors on the other hand are led by Stephen Curry.  Steph is the All-star MVP… the best shooter, the most creative shooter, and the guy who changed the game forever.  Steph has teammates that will join him in the Hall of Fame in SG Klay Thompson and PF Draymond Green .. the trio share 3 Championship rings and want more.  Those three are also joined by first time all-star and first time all-star starter SF Andrew Wiggins…. They also have a group of future stars on the bench in SG Jordan Poole, SF/PF Jonathan Kuminga, and C James Wiseman (Wiseman hasn’t played this season because of injury).  Those guys came along in the dry period when Kevin Durant left the team at the same time Klay Thompson started a 2 ½ season rehab for multiple knee and achilles injuries… Klay just rejoined the team and the results are amazing.  The Warriors are too loaded for the Mavericks to dream of beating them in a Playoff series… but for one game… one Game?  We have a great betting opportunity.  Let’s check the numbers and make some cash.

The Dallas Mavericks have won 6 of their last ten games.  Going 7-3 ATS during that stretch.  With 5 Overs and 5 Unders.  They lost their last one against the Utah Jazz and four games ago lost a super close one to the Los Angeles Clippers.  That is indicative that the Mavericks are not a serious contender this season.  No matter how well Luka plays and no matter how many time the Mavericks beat the Detroit Pistons or the New Orleans Pelicans or the Orlando Magic (all within the last ten games)... they need wins over teams like the Jazz and the Clippers because those are the teams they are jockeying with for playoff position.  At the moment the Mavericks injury list is home to SG Tim Hardaway Jr… Luka can play with Spencer Dinwiddie, Reggie Bullock, or Jalen Brunson in the backcourt… but the guy he needs is Tim Hardaway JR.  This offseason will bring several roster changes.  It has to.  This team missed out on PF Domantas Sabonis, and SF Norman Powell… both guys that would have fit perfectly alongside Luka.  It has to burn Mark Cuban to the core to have the league’s best young player… and need so much more around him.  The Mavericks went through this before with another amazing international player…. If you remember Dirk.  

The Golden State Warriors  have also won only 6 of their last ten games.  A stretch that benefitted the Phoenix Suns more than anyone else in the league.  The Warriors are firmly entrenched in 2nd place, but the Suns are running away with the West.  The Warriors have only gone 3-6-1 ATS during that stretch… meaning even when they win they are being played close.  The problem in San Francisco is Draymond Green.  Draymond not only is the team’s best defensive player ( a possible defensive player of the year every year he plays)... he also pulls down such an odd assortment of rebounds and assists that he may be the league’s best 3rd option… EVER.  That’s a bold statement… still it’s worth a close look if you don’t believe it.  Draymond has always pitched in a few points… but poured in blocks, steals, rebounds… all the good stuff.  The bench for the Warriors is dripping in depth… guys like Juan Toscano-Anderson, Nemanja Bjelica, and Damion Lee… are simply not well known… and they certainly are not starters in the NBA… but for a few minutes here and there… are almost perfect… whether it is athletic, and singularily skilled or just an all around player?,, they deep bench for the Warriors counts in a way that it only does for the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Al McMordie SWEPT THE BOARD in the NBA last night with the Charlotte Hornets over Toronto, and the San Antonio Spurs over Washington. Big Al's 74-55 his last 129 in Basketball, and is firing on his NBA Game of the Week today. It's out of a 93-54 ATS angle, so don't miss this extremely strong play. Go get it!... Don’t miss out! Get Big Al’s picks!   You can discover the best  picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB, college football… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

Dallas is 35-25 on the season, but 33-27 ATS.  They have logged 21 Overs, 38 Unders, and 1 Push… the sort of Over Under mark that fits for both good defensive teams and teams with a single great scorer surrounded by role players.  The Mavs are 15-14 ini road games.

The Warriors are 43-17 on the season, but 30-26-4 ATS. 4 Push is a lot of Push.  They have notched 25 Overs, 33 Unders, and 2 Push.  They are 26-6 in home games.

The Mavericks are 24th in scoring with 106.7 ppg, 26th in rebounds with 43.4 per game, and 6th in AST/TO ratio with 1.9.  They rank 2nd on defense while allowing 103.5 ppg.

The Warriors are 10th in scoring with 111.0 ppg, 8th in rebounds with 45.8 per game, and 11th in AST/TO ratio with 1.8.  They are ranked 4th while allowing 103.6 ppg

Our prediction for Sunday, February 27th is….  Warriors 110 - Mavericks 107

This will be two very strong defenses going head to head.  Both teams have quality shooting.  Low scoring… bet the Under.  We will see if the point spread gives you an in with the Mavs or the Warriors?..... 

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The Warriors are 220-174 ATS in home games versus excellent defensive teams since 1996 (2nd half of season).
The Warriors are 200-134 ATS as home favorites 3.5-9.5 pts in February since 1996.
The Warriors are 41-28 ATS in home games the last 2 seasons.

Mavs: PF Marquiss Chris (knee) Out ** SG Tim Hardaway (foot) Out for season.

Warriors: PF Draymond Green (calf) Out ** C James Wiseman (knee) Out ** SG Andre Iguodala (back) Out

Mavs: SF Dorian Finney-Smith, SF Reggie Bullock, C Dwight Powell, SG Jalen Brunson, PG Luka Doncic

Warriors: SF Gary Payton II, PF Andrew Wiggins, C Kevon Looney, SG Klay Thompson, PG Stephen Curry

Mavericks

Points: Luka Doncic 27.4

Assists: Luka Doncic 9.0

Rebounds: Luka Doncic 9.1

Steals: Dorian Finney-Smith 1.2

Blocks: Kristaps Porzingis 1.7 (gone)

Warriors

Points: Stephen Curry 25.4

Assists: Draymond Green 7.4

Rebounds: Draymond Green 7.6

Steals: Gary Payton II 1.4

Blocks: Draymond Green 1.2

Mavs:  Jason Kidd… Super Villain… one ring as a player.

Warriors: Steve Kerr… Super Hero… 4 rings as a player, 3 rings as a coach.