Dallas Mavericks (26-23) vs. New York Knicks (32-18)
As the NBA season continues to unfold, the Dallas Mavericks head to the iconic Madison Square Garden to face off against the New York Knicks in a highly anticipated matchup. Scheduled for Thursday fans and bettors alike are eagerly looking for daily NBA picks to navigate the exciting landscape of NBA betting.
The Mavericks have seen solid performances this season, scoring an average of 118.2 points per game with a 47.4% field goal percentage and making 15 three-point field goals with an impressive 37.1% success rate per game from beyond the arc. Their defensive rebounds and assists per game show room for improvement which may compromise their success against an intense Knicks squad.
Conversely, the New York Knicks have taken an even-keel approach to their game, averaging 115 points per game with a lower field goal percentage (46.7% vs 47.1 for Mavericks) but excelling in rebounding (46.4 per game and free throw percentage of 78.5% – which indicates their efficiency at capitalizing on free-throw opportunities. Maintaining strong defensive and offensive rebound presence could prove critical against Mavericks.
Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks Game Info
| When: | Thursday, February 8, 2024, at 7:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Madison Square Garden |
| TV: | TNT |
| Stream: | NBA League Pass |
Kyrie Irving (PG) vs Jalen Brunson (PG)
Kyrie Irving has excelled since joining the Mavericks, averaging 25.2 points per game on average and contributing greatly to Dallas’ recent slump with his superior ball handling and shot creation skills. However, his efficiency during that stretch was diminished and against his former team he must find an equilibrium between scoring and facilitating.
Brunson has excelled in his first season with the Knicks, scoring 27.3 points per game while dishing out 6.5 assists and picking-and-roll playmaking/midrange scoring for New York’s offense. Brunson could prove pivotal against former teammate Irving; both point guards possess talent enough to dominate but must set aside any personal issues and focus on making smart plays instead.
This matchup pits Irving’s prolific scoring ability against Brunson’s methodical control of the game. Both have demonstrated they can dominate, yet both must find ways to help their teams find victory here – this battle between former teammates is must-watch TV!
NBA Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
As this game will likely feature two evenly-matched teams, bettors will eagerly await updates to both spread and moneyline which may provide more insight into expected game dynamics.
Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends
Dallas has struggled to cover spreads recently, going 1-4 ATS over their last five. But the Mavs are still an impressive 13-9 against the spread on the road where their offense travels better. The scoring upside of Irving and Luka Doncic makes Dallas dangerous, having gone over the total in 13 of 27 home matchups. The Mavs have enough firepower to hang around.
New York Knicks Betting Trends
The Knicks have won and covered in four of their last five contests, riding an uptick in offensive efficiency. New York is an excellent 15-11 against the number at home this season, by far the NBA’s best home cover percentage. But strangely, only one of the Knicks’ last five games have gone over the total as their defense has limited opponents. Expect them to clamp down at Madison Square Garden in this spot.
Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks 2/8/24 Betting Picks
Given their respective performances and strengths, both teams can expect this game to be tightly contested. With the Knicks’ strong home game and rebounding advantage against Mavericks defense led by Brunson, they may take control; however, Irving should never be underestimated, especially as his three-point shooting increases.
Although final betting lines have yet to be set, recent Knicks form and home court advantage makes them the safer bet in this matchup. Bettors should pay close attention to both spread and over/under figures based on each team’s offensive capabilities; using top bookie software could make placing bets simpler with multiple options tailored for every type of bettor.
