Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks
Friday, 11/19/10, 9:30 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Dallas -5
Current Betting Line: Dallas -5
Opening Total: 195
Current Total: 195
Chicago was unable to extend its winning streak to five games after giving up 37 points in the third quarter in a 103-94 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs. “I don’t know if it was fatigue,” said point guard Derrick Rose. “The good thing about the NBA is you play again in a few days. We still feel good about ourselves. Hopefully we learn from this and go out there and win the game against Dallas.” Rose has scored 33 points in consecutive games and has shot 59 percent from the field over his last 11 quarters. The Bulls are not likely to turn things around in tonight’s venue, dropping five straight and 12 of 13 in Dallas. The team was swept by the Mavericks in 2009-10 and has dropped 21 of the last 24 matchups overall. Chicago is 13-7 ATS as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points and the NBA lines page is available for the most up-to-date number.
The Bulls trail the all-time series with the Mavericks 28-31 and the last time they picked up a victory in Dallas was on February 8, 2005. Chicago’s most important statistic in winning games this year is holding opponents to under 100 points, currently possessing a 6-0 mark when doing so. During their recent four-game winning streak, the squad limited opponents to just 92.5 points per game before the Spurs went over the magical number. Offensively, the team needs to get more production out of forward Taj Gibson, who started the road trip among the league leaders in field goal percentage, only to hit one of 16 shots in the first two games.
Dallas also had a four-game winning streak snapped by dropping a 99-97 contest to the New Orleans Hornets. “Our undoing was the third quarter, when we were dominated,” said head coach Rick Carlisle. “We fought back, but you can’t have a quarter where you get beat by 16 on the road and expect to walk out of here with a win.” Despite the loss, the team is excited about the return of forward Caron Butler to the lineup, scoring five points and dishing out two assists after missing three straight games with back spasms. He averaged 26.0 points in three games, including one with Washington against the Bulls last year. Dallas is 57-67 ATS as a favorite over the last three seasons.
The Mavericks have a perfect 3-0 mark against the Eastern Conference this year and each of those games has taken place at the American Airlines Center. Dallas is scoring 97.3 points per game while holding opponents to 92.6 a night, while the Bulls are a high-flying unit in putting up 102.9 a contest. The squad will be playing their first back-to-back in the next two games and posted a 15-5 mark in the first game and a 12-8 record in the second game during the 2009-10 campaign.
Bettors will find that the Bulls are 12-3 ATS after a SU loss, while the Mavericks are 7-2-1 ATS as a favorite of 5 to 10.5 points.
Don’t miss out on all the great action tonight and let the NBA handicappers at Maddux Sports provide you cash for a great football weekend ahead!
