NBA Picks: Dallas Mavericks vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Dallas Mavericks at Milwaukee Bucks
Tuesday, 3/12/13, 8:00 PM EST, TV: FSWI
Opening Point Spread: Milwaukee -2
Current Betting Line: Milwaukee -1.5
Opening Total: 208
Current Total: 208
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Milwaukee Bucks are 10-19 ATS at home this season

Dallas has won three games in a row, including a 100-77 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves as seven-point road favorites Sunday, while going UNDER the posted total of 199. “We got to keep an edge as we keep going on this trip,” commented Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks haven’t won three straight road games in more than a year, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks against the spread. Dallas is 17-21 ATS in March the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 22-16 in that situation.

The Mavericks are 12-21 overall on the road this season, including a 5-8 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents. Dallas has won eight of its last 13 meetings with Milwaukee, but has dropped three of the last four. Offensively, the team is shooting 43.6 percent form 3-point range over its last five games, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro basketball odds page.

Milwaukee has won six of its last seven games, including a 115-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings as one-point road underdogs Sunday, while going OVER the total for the fourth time in five contests. “We were fortunate to get out of here with a win,” commented Bucks forward Mike Dunleavy. Guard Monta Ellis has really upped his production recently, averaging 26.1 points on 50 percent shooting over the last seven games. Milwaukee is 10-19 ATS at home this season, with the OVER going 17-13 in that situation.

The Bucks have scored 100-plus points in seven of eight games since the trade deadline, as they continue to be led by their backcourt of Ellis and point guard Brandon Jennings. Milwaukee’s .800 winning percentage at home against Dallas is its highest against any conference opponent at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The squad is 5-1 in its last six games versus Western Conference opponents, averaging 105.5 points per game in that span.