NBA Basketball BETTING PREVIEW - Dallas Mavericks @ Charlotte Hornets

NBA Basketball

2026-03-03 - Dallas Mavericks at Charlotte Hornets

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Dallas Mavericks @ Charlotte Hornets
United States : NBA Basketball
Tuesday 3rd March 2026 - Scheduled 7pm
12pm (British Time)

---

Preview

As you move into the final quarter of the regular season, momentum can be a huge factor and there is no denying that the Charlotte Hornets (30-31) have plenty of that on their side. The young team have really come together nicely and they are looking to move back to 0.500, while beginning to have ambitions to earn a direct spot in the First Round of the Playoffs.

Several weeks ago the Play In Tournament would have looked a tough position to reach, but the Charlotte Hornets have moved into the top ten of the Eastern Conference standings. As the wins have piled up, and those above them have struggled for consistency, the Hornets have moved to within 3.5 games of the Number 6 Seeded Philadelphia 76ers, and they will also be very keen on at least securing a top eight finish which would offer two shots to reach the First Round of the Playoffs.

The return from the All Star Break did not go as planned against a couple of the elite Eastern Conference teams, but the Hornets have won four in a row since then and have found a real balance at both ends of the court.

Charlotte will be hosting the slumping Dallas Mavericks (21-39) who are now 7 games behind the top ten places in the Western Conference and very much thinking about the Draft Lottery for a second year in a row.

Cooper Flagg was picked last year and he has had a strong rookie season, but the Mavericks have been without his talents for a long stretch which is set to move to an eighth game on Tuesday.

It has been tough for Dallas without him as they have struggled to find someone who can consistently produce for them Offensively. This has only increased the pressure on the team Defensively and now they have to face a young Charlotte team who have been hitting the three point shot for fun during their strong run of form.

The last three Dallas games have all ended in relatively comfortable defeat and that has to be a concern for them against an opponent like this one. Some of the Mavericks players may be keen to slow down Kon Knueppel who has become the main rival to Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year honours in the NBA, but it looks a tall task for the Mavericks.

Winning games has been one thing for the Hornets, but they have been winning impressively more often than not.

The Hornets have covered in each of the last seven outings, but the last four have been as favourite which shows the group can handle the expectations that have been growing around them. During that four game winning run, Charlotte have been asked to cover double digit spreads twice, which they have successfully, and they can do the same here even if Dallas show some Offensive pushback.

Prediction

Lay the points with the home favourite in this NBA regular season game.

The Pick :

Charlotte Hornets 124-109 Dallas Mavericks

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Charlotte Hornets - 12.5 Points at -114 with BetOnline