Friday NBA Basketball Prediction: Indiana Pacers vs Dallas Mavericks
Friday, February 03, 2012
Frank Martin
Before his four-game break, the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki blamed his career-low numbers on knee and conditioning issues. Maybe he needed a longer break.
Since returning to the lineup, the NBA Finals MVP has failed to score more than 10 points in three straight games. That did not matter so much in the first two games - wins over San Antonio and Phoenix - but the Mavericks could have used a better effort from their star in a 95-86 home loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Now Nowitzki and Dallas have to go up against another strong team when they host the Indiana Pacers on Friday.
Pacers star Danny Granger had a slow start to his season as well but has picked up his level recently. After failing to reach 100 points in 13 straight games, the Granger-led Pacers have surpassed the century mark in each of the last three contests.
- Indiana Pacers @ Dallas Mavericks
When: 8:30 PM ET, Friday, February 3, 2012
Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FSIN (Indiana), FSSW (Dallas)
The Mavericks have opened as 4.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NBA Basketball Odds.
Indiana Pacers (15-6): Indiana was making its way into contention in the Eastern Conference with strong team defense and rebounding but has exploded offensively of late. Roy Hibbert and Paul George have had some big games but the difference has been Granger, who went for a season-high 36 points in a win at Minnesota on Wednesday and has averaged 24.8 points in the last five games after putting up 16.1 in the previous 15.
Dallas Mavericks (14-9): Nowitzki bottomed out on Wednesday with eight points on 2-for-15 shooting. A career 37.8 percent 3-point shooter, he is 0 of 11 from beyond the arc over the last three games. The slow start is one of the reasons Nowitzki was left off the roster when All-Star starters were announced on Thursday night and he is a long shot to make it as a reserve. Dallas will have other help on Friday, as Brendan Haywood and Lamar Odom are expected to be back after missing Wednesday’s game.
1. The Mavericks have taken six of the last seven and eight of 10 in the series.
2. Nowitzki has averaged 24.9 points and eight rebounds in 23 career games against Indiana.
3. Granger has put up 16 points on 36.2 percent shooting in 11 career games against Dallas.
NBA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Mavericks 97, Pacers 92
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american airlines center - brendan haywood - dallas mavericks - danny granger - dirk nowitzki - indiana pacers - lamar odom - paul george - roy hibbert
