Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Where to watch: BSSW-DAL, NBCSWA
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: PK
FanDuel: PK
BetMGM: PK
Caesars: PK
Season record
Wizards: 20-26
Mavs: 25-23
The second half of the basketball season is upon us, and what a cluster we've got in the standings right now, right? So many teams are in the playoff hunt, so many teams not expected to make the playoffs are in the process of trying to prove people wrong. You know who doesn't need to be made wrong? Our champion handicappers who have been killing it all year long. Scott Rickenbach is coming off a 5-2-0 week over the last seven days, while Doc's Sports has been efficient at 14-8-0 over the last 30 days. Do you want to get on this winning? Make sure you're following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to celebrate in these moments!
Wizards - Mavs preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Wizards: won 138-118 vs. Magic
Mavs: lost 112-98 vs. Clippers
The Dallas Mavericks are in dire need of getting back to their winning ways, but might have a good chance on Tuesday when they return home to take on the Washington Wizards, who will be without Kristaps Porzingis in this matchup.
The Mavs are coming into this game having lost four of their last five and are coming off a 112-98 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at home on Sunday. Luka Doncic had 29 points and 10 rebounds on 9 of 21 shooting, and Spencer Dinwiddie had 21 points on 8 of 18 shooting. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 22 points, but that was all the offense Dallas could put together.
“I thought the second half we just came out a little flat,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “Give them credit; they were the better team.”
That’s been the case for a long time for the Mavs against the Clippers. They just have no answer for Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Luka can’t do everything, for god’s sake, and this was another showing of it. Whether or not you believe that the Mavs need to make a trade at the deadline, they’ve got to do something. Because this is getting sad.
The Wizards, meanwhile, are looking for their third straight win but as mentioned, they have to do so without Porzingis. The big man from Washington is out for the next two weeks at least with an ankle injury and likely will not be participating in anything over the next little bit. But Washington is coming off a 138-118 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday in which Washington was favored by 6.5 and covered successfully surprisingly because they've only covered in three of the last eight.
No longer a member of the Wizards because of reasons, Rui Hachimura scored a game-high 30 points, while Kyle Kuzma finished with 25 points. Bradley Beal and Porzingis each had 17.
“He was terrific. I loved his aggression off the bench," coach Wes Unseld said of his now-former player. “I think once he sees one or two go in, it kind of gets him going.”
Prediction
There comes a point in every man's life where they just watch a game and think that this should be a winnable game for the home team. I'm not sure exactly what in the world is going on with the Mavs and quite frankly the fact that they still haven't been able to figure it out leads me to believe that they better just blow some stuff up and get some added pieces at the deadline. Because quite frankly, I don't want to watch this team crap the bed anymore because they're just not fun. When Luca is just by himself putting up 50-point triple-doubles and they're only winning by two it's just not appealing to me so this is my plea to Nico Harrison and Mark Cuban. Do something and get this man some help. Mavericks 114, Wizards 101
Betting trends
Wizards are 9-21 ATS off a home win the last 2 seasons.
Wizards are 20-32 ATS after a win the last 2 seasons.
Mavs are 24-13 ATS at home after an under the last 2 seasons.
Mavs are 36-23 ATS off a loss the last 2 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Wizards:
PG: Monte Morris
SG: Bradley Beal
SF: Kyle Kuzma
PF: Anthony Gill
C: Daniel Gafford
Mavs:
PG: Luka Doncic
SG: Spencer Dinwiddie
SF: Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF: Dorian Finney-Smith
C: Dwight Powell
Injury report
Wizards: Kristaps Porzingis (ankle, out)
Mavs: Christian Wood (ankle, questionable)
Statistical leaders
Wizards:
Points: Bradley Beal -- 22.5
Rebounds: Kristaps Porzingis -- 8.8
Assists: Monte Morris -- 5.4
Mavs:
Points: Luka Doncic -- 33.7
Rebounds: Luka Doncic -- 8.9
Assists: Luka Doncic -- 8.8
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Washington Wizards - Dallas Mavericks prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.