Dallas Mavericks vs. Toronto Raptors Predictions, Picks and NBA Preview – December 22, 2015

December hasn’t been that merry for the Toronto Raptors lately, as they’ve lost three of their last four games, including a bad home loss at the hands of Sacramento on Sunday. The Raptors can bounce right back later tonight, when they get a visit from Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks for the second and last meeting of the two teams this season.

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Dallas Mavericks vs. Toronto Raptors Betting Preview

Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto

When: Tuesday, December 22, 2015, 7:30 PM ET

Line: Dallas Mavericks vs. Toronto Raptors – view all NBA lines

TV Broadcast: NBATV

Betting on the Dallas Mavericks (15-12)

[sc:NBA240banner ]Dirk Nowitzki is still the man for Dallas. The 17-year veteran held his ground against the grit-and-grind frontcourt of Memphis on Friday, scoring 20 points and playing good defense in a 97-88 win. The Mavs haven’t won back-to-back games since winning over New York early this month. They’ll try to accomplish that again later tonight in Toronto, where they are 3-3 ATS in their last six games there.

Nowitzki, who is averaging 17.2 points on 48.1 percent shooting this season, also got ample support in that game from the likes of workhorse Zaza Pachulia and Deron Williams, who contributed 10 and 14 points, respectively. Pachulia has been a rebounding beast this season, as the energetic big man is leading the team with 10.8 rebounds per game.

Pachulia and the rest of the Mavs are expected to have an easier time rebounding tonight than in their earlier meeting with Toronto—a 102-91 loss on November 3—in which they were outworked on the glass 47-44, as the Raptors won’t have Jonas Valanciunas in the middle. Aside from that, the Mavs have a new-look frontcourt with JaVale McGee now in the mix. McGee played well off the bench against Memphis, scoring 10 points to go along with five boards and three blocks in just 18 minutes of action.

Nowitzki had 18 points and seven boards in the first meeting with Toronto.

The over is 3-1 in the last four road games of Dallas, which averages 101.5 points away from home this season.

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Betting on the Toronto Raptors (17-12)

After losing to Sacramento on Sunday, 104-94, it’s clear that the Raptors need to find a fix to their poor starts.

Toronto had previously gone on a 17-game stretch in which it was behind after the first quarter 12 times and the game against Sacramento was no different. Thus far this season, the Raptors have been outscored in the opening period by 1.8 points, fifth highest in the NBA.

Perhaps the Raptors could do better if they’ll choose their shots more wisely. Versus Sacramento, the Raptors went wild from the outside, going 8-for-29 from behind the arc for a poor 27.9 percent. Kyle Lowry didn’t have his usual hot hands in that game, going 1-for-6 from the three-point area, finishing with only 13 points—far from his season average of 21.0 PPG.

Lowry, however, scored 27 points in the previous meeting with Dallas, as he went 9-for-15 from the field. Together with DeMar DeRozan, Lowry forms a dangerous starting backcourt for Toronto. DeRozan, who finished with 20 points against Dallas on November, has been extra lethal of late, as he’s averaging 26.8 points in the past five games.

With Valanciunas’ continued absence, Bismack Biyombo is expected to be Toronto’s starting center later tonight. Biyombo is a limited scorer, whose points mostly come from dunks and putbacks, but it’s his rebounding and rim protection which will be needed the most by Toronto. Biyombo is grabbing 13.6 rebounds and swatting away 2.4 shots in the last five games.

Toronto is 6-4 ATS in its last 10 home games against the Mavericks.

Writer’s Prediction

Dallas wins, 100-97.

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