Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction: This can be a close one

The NBA scene is complicated when it comes to the betting scenario. Team can rise and fall at a big rate which means that you can pick the favorite and the bet can still fail. Usually, the home team gets the favorite tag but you never know if some teams eke one out here and there. Can the Cleveland Cavaliers do so when they take on the Dallas Mavericks?

The Mavs come into this game after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 121:114 as Luka Doncic stamped 38 points and 11 rebounds. They have won 14 and lost 13 and have split four of their last meetings, including a one-point loss against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Mavs have been off to a slow start and their scoring depth has been overly reliant upon Luka Doncic although Tim Hardaway Jr, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Christian Wood have been decent supports. The defense is solid but the Forward position has been inconsistent offensively.

The Cavaliers march into this affair after losing 111:112 despite a 28 points performance by Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs have split their last six meetings and after a hot start, they have been a little wayward. An injury to Donovan Mitchell stalled them a bit but even with him, they have lost their focus at times. Lately, defense hasn’t been the problem but it is the offensive end that has let things loose many times. Still, the Cavs seem to possess more depth than the Mavs on the scoring end although not by much. If Ricky Rubio gets healthy again, he can bring great playmaking off the bench to add to the passing.

• Mavericks: OUT: Josh Green. QUESTIONABLE: Maxi Kleber;
• Cavaliers: OUT: Dean Wade, Dylan Windler, Ricky Rubio.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Luka Doncic(30+ Points), Donovan Mitchell(28-34 Points);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Luka Doncic(9-11 Assists), Darius Garland(9-12 Assists);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Evan Mobley(11-13 Rebounds), Jarrett Allen(10-13 Rebounds), Luka Doncic(10-12 Rebounds).

Defensively, the Mavericks and the Cavaliers are both amazing squads but offensively, they have been highly inconsistent throughout the season. Thus, we can witness a grind-out affair but this is the NBA, there can be times even when the good defense can result in a bunch of points. I see a closely contested game and the Mavs making a late run and seize the deal. I predict a scoreline of 113:108 in favor of the Mavericks.