Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks Match Preview, bets, odds, and more | 23 April

The NBA Playoffs keep on bringing on some head-spinning results but that is to be expected during this intense period. And to keep the theme alive, the Utah Jazz will host the red-hot Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs have won the last two games and have taken a two-one lead, regaining the home-court advantage. The Jazz should be gutted after not being able to take a series lead with Mavs' ace Luka Doncic being out. Can the Jazz tie the matters?

Total: Bookmakers at 1xbet predict the total to be around 213. The odds for Over/Under in the case are 1.965. The last game brought in 244 and the game before that fetched 214, and the first game hauled in 192 points. Interestingly, the Jazz’s defense has only become more vulnerable with each game. I believe the total will go “Over” 213 here nonetheless (Total Over 214.5 for 2.17)

Handicap: The bookmakers are not fazed by two straight losses for the Jazz and by the fact that Luka Doncic can also return here. They see the Jazz as favorites in this game and the odds for a handicap of -6 are 1.90. The six-point swing is on the flip side for the Mavs, a team that registered an eight points victory. I do side with the bookmakers here and would go for a handicap of -6 in favor of the Jazz if Doncic doesn't play but if he does play I'd go for the Handicap of -4.5 in favor of the Mavs. (Handicap 1 -6.5 for 1.98)

Player Props: Bookmakers at bet365 believe that the odds of Rudy Gobert going over 14.5 rebounds are 1.80. He has clinched 7, 17, 17 rebounds in the last three games. Since the Mavericks made a ton of shots, Rudy didn’t get the chance to nab many boards. However, i believe he will take the leap and clinch at least 15 rebounds. I’d go for Over the mark. (Player Props: Player Rebounds: Rudy Gobert Over 14.5)

You can catch the tussle on the NBA League Pass.

The Jazz must be disappointed as they have even let tertiary scoring options of the Mavericks go ham on them. They have allowed the Mavericks to make a lot of threes, in Game 3, they allowed 18 at 40%+, and the game before that, the Mavs dropped 22 of them. The Mavericks took control of the game in the third quarter as the Jazz gave up 41 points. The effort was much better in the second half but the three-point shooting has been an issue for the Jazz. The Jazz also turned it over 14 times which isn't terrible but the Mavericks committed just 8. In a positive, Bojan Bogdanovic ahs eclipsed the 20 points mark thrice while Donovan Mitchell has shot better from the field although his three-point shooting has been off. Mike Conley had a solid Game 3 after a slim Game 2 whereas Jordan Clarkson has done his job. Rudy Gobert was aggressive in Game 3 and more will be needed of him. 

Mavericks have found their groove from three-point line, largely on the back of budding Point Guard Jalen Brunson. Brunson had 31 in Game 3 following a 41 points outing in Game 2. Maki Kleber also deserves credit, following his eight threes night by knocking down four triples in Game 3. Bullock and Finney-Smith have also knocked down their shots but Spencer Dinwiddie has struggled from beyond the arc although he looks fantastic when driving to the rim. On the defensive end, the Mavericks have been able to close out games and make life tough for the Jazz during the clutch moments while they also did a great job of keeping them off the rebounding end in Game 3, just like they did in Game 2. If Doncic plays, you gotta think that the Mavs will get a three-one lead.

• Jazz's most likely starting five: PG: Mike Conley | SG: Donovan Mitchell | SF: Bojan Bogdanovic | PF: Royce O'Neale | C: Rudy Gobert
• Mavericks' most likely starting five: PG: Jalen Brunson | PG: Spencer Dinwiddie | SF: Reggie Bullock | PF: Dorian Finney-Smith | C: Dwight Powell