NBA Basketball
2012-01-10 - Dallas Mavericks at Detroit Pistons
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball
Tuesday 10 January 2012 - Tip Off 7:30pm ET
12:30am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Dallas Mavericks (4-5) will feel a bit better that they have had a few days off after complaining of feeling fatigue last week in which they were asked to play in 5 of the 7 days. That has not stopped them recovering from a poor start to the new season and they have won 3 of their last 4 games, although they are yet to win on the road.
Dirk Nowitzki has been struggling in the last 3 games, averaging just 12 points per game, but that has not stopped the Mavericks taking 2 of those. He has averaged just under 30 points per game in the last 6 contests against the Detroit Pistons (2-7) and will be looking to bounce back here.
Dallas also have one of the deeper rosters in the NBA and that was highlighted as the bench dominated the New Orleans Hornets in their last game and outscored them by 21 points.
Jason Kidd will miss this game through injury and that means Delonte West will run the offense, while Vince Carter will continue to start.
The Mavericks face a Detroit team that is really struggling for form, losing 4 games in a row by an average of 21 points per game, while they were held to just 68 points here by the Chicago Bulls last night. The Pistons are really struggling for points and have failed to score more than 90 points in 8 of their 9 games this season and they have not broken 83 points in their last 4 games.
Injuries are taking their toll on a small roster, with Charlie Villanueva and Rodney Stuckey looking set to miss their 4th consecutive game. Ben Gordon is another player that is banged up, although Detroit refuse to blame injuries for their poor start to the congested season.
Head to Head
Dallas have won 7 of the last 9 games in the series with the Pistons, although Detroit are 4-1 against the spread in the last 5 games.
The Pistons covered in their last home game against Dallas, but they had lost the last 2 both straight up and against the spread.
Detroit are 2-7 against the spread this season, Dallas are 5-4.
Detroit are 2-6 against the spread when they are set as the underdog, Dallas are 3-2 as the favourite.
Other Interesting Trends
Detroit are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games as the home underdog of between 5 and 10.5 points.
They are just 2-7 against the spread in their last 9 games against Western Conference opponents.
Dallas are 12-4 against the spread in their last 16 games as the favourite of between 5 and 10.5 points.
Prediction
I am going to back the Dallas Mavericks to win their first road game of the season and cover the spread for the following reasons:
First, Detroit are just 1-5 against the spread in their last 6 games on the back end of back to back nights play.
Second, Dallas have a lot more depth than Detroit and come into this one on 2 days rest, a time they have gone 5-1 against the spread in their previous 6 games with this time to rest.
Third, the Pistons have been beaten easily in their last 4 games, their confidence has to be low and they are missing a key player in Rodney Stuckey.
Fourth, Dallas are 10-3-1 against the spread in their previous 14 games in the first of back to back games.
The Pick :
Detroit Pistons 85-95 Dallas Mavericks
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Dallas Mavericks - 6.5 Points @ 1.95