Mavs betting: How to assess Dallas at Jazz

Just 16 days ago, the Utah Jazz handed the Dallas Mavericks their fourth drastic defeat in a row with just one possession. The NBA schedule has given the Mavericks a chance to make amends and put the upstart Jazz on the other side of the scoreboard tonight. Since Luka Doncic has been practiced and listed as a game-time decision, we are approaching this game assuming he will play, but are cautious as we know this is a big factor in decisions around this handicap.

Game details

Schedule: Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz | NBA 2024-2025

Date and time: Wednesday, November 30, 2024; 8:30 p.m. CST

Venue: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Outcome odds

• Spread: Dallas -6.5 (-110)
• O/U 231.5
• Mavs ML: -250

Current odds as of 2:30pm CST from DraftKings

This is a game the Mavericks will take seriously. Given that the Jazz handed Dallas a loss that led to a team meeting and subsequent improvement in the game across the board, another loss in Utah would be a psychological trap for the Mavericks and a real stumble early in the season as the Calendar to be changed soon December.

Betting on the Mavs moneyline paired with your favorite game is a perfectly reasonable idea.

Player props

• John Collins over 20 points (+125)
• Dereck Lively II over 9 points (-130)

John Collins is one of those players that Dallas never seems to have an answer for. Expect the Jazz to lean on Collins and exceed that number. Taking 18 at -125 was a consideration, but Collins getting into the 20s in exchange for better odds is well worth the risk.

The potential return of Luka Doncic and the team’s overall focus on returning to Utah leads to a Lively-scoring game here. An increased chance of lobs and post-catches as well as pick-and-roll opportunities is the next best thing to being able to bet on a Luka prop (currently unavailable). This one still has a good chance of scoring if Doncic can’t go tonight.

Game of the day

• Dallas Mavericks -6.5 (-110)

Let’s keep this look simple. The Mavericks were embarrassed that Utah even made it to a game last time out, and the loss was the catalyst for the earliest team meeting I can remember of a Dallas squad going public in several seasons. The Mavs need to win this game and do it convincingly to maintain their recent upward trend.

Take Dallas here – with or without Lukas’ return – to secure this one – probably in double figures.