Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Just as it was last season, the NBA’s Western Conference standings are extremely tight, with 12 of the 15 teams having at least eight wins ahead of Friday’s slate.

The Denver Nuggets are one of those teams, with the 2022/23 champions boasting a decent record of 8-5, and they enter their clash with the Dallas Mavericks as favorites due to the visitors’ slow start to the campaign.

The Mavs were beaten in the Finals by the Boston Celtics last season and many expected them to go one better and land a first championship since 2011 this time around.

However, a record of 8-7 to start the season is far from title-winning form and they will need to be at their best to get a win in Denver.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets betting picks and predictions

Dallas Mavericks +3.0 (-110)

Denver’s star, Nikola Jokic, has been absent for three matches due to a family-related emergency and the Nuggets, understandably, have struggled without their fulcrum.

The Nuggets were beaten by the New Orleans Pelicans before losing to the Memphis Grizzlies in their first two games without Jokic, before gaining revenge over Memphis in the rematch two days later.

However, there is a chance the Serbian superstar may return for this clash which, on paper, would exponentially increase their hopes of gaining the win over Dallas.

But the exact time frame of Jokic’s return is unknown and rustiness is also likely to show as he missed practice once again on Thursday, meaning it has been almost a week since he last practiced with his teammates.

Dallas have their own major absentee, as Luka Doncic is sidelined with a wrist injury, but they have proven over the past few days that they can cope just fine without their superstar guard.

A 121-119 win over many people’s pre-season pick for the title, the Oklahoma City Thunder, demonstrated just how impressive Dallas can be without their main man, suggesting it may be worth backing the Mavs on the spread in Denver.

Jokic isn’t the Nuggets’ only significant absentee either, as key defensive cog Aaron Gordon is also unavailable. The forward would have been key to limiting the impact of Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, who may run the show in Denver as a result of his absence.

The Mavs were beaten by just two points in the pair’s meeting earlier in the month and it would be no surprise to see them keep things close again - or even win - this time around, with a victory crucial to both sides who are each 1-1 in the NBA Cup Group play ahead of this clash.

Kyrie Irving Over 24.5 points (-135)

With Doncic out, the onus will fall on Irving to lead the charge for the Mavs at the Ball Arena and, based on his recent performances, he is likely to be up to that challenge.

On paper, a points line of 24.5 may look a touch high for a player who has failed to notch more than 23 in any of his last four contests, but when adding context to those games, it is easy to see how he can clear that figure in Denver.

He managed 21 and 22 when playing 36 minutes against both the Warriors and Thunder, an impressive return given they are the two best teams in the West at current and each boast exceptional defenders in their backcourt.

Irving played less than 29 minutes in the two other games in that run yet still managed to score 23 against the Spurs and 18 against the Pelicans.

Given he should play for over half an hour in Denver and the fact that the Nuggets’ guards, Russell Westbrook and Jamal Murray, are not at the defensive level of Golden State or Oklahoma’s backcourt members, it is worth backing Irving to clear his points line.

Plus, Irving already domianted against this team when he scored a mammoth 43 points in Denver earlier this month.

Derreck Lively II Over 7.5 rebounds (-115)

With the rebounding machine that is Jokic, who averages 13.7 per game this season, either out or rusty, it could pay to back a Maverick to have a big night on the boards in Denver.

Dereck Lively II is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game this season, but could be a big beneficiary of Jokic’s lack of sharpness.

The Serb’s deputies, Dario Saric and DeAndre Jordan, both average less than 4.4 boards a game and could struggle against a competent center like Lively.

The Dallas big man missed this month’s earlier meeting with the Nuggets, but he managed eight rebounds in his last clash with Denver, suggesting he is worth backing to match that return on Friday.

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Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets odds

Dallas Mavericks	+125 ML
Denver Nuggets	-150 ML
Spread	DEN Nuggets -3.0
Total Points	O/U 226.5

Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets player props

Player Points

Nikola Jokic (DEN Nuggets)	O/U 27.5
Kyrie Irving (DAL Mavericks)	O/U 24.5
Klay Thompson (DAL Mavericks)	O/U 17.5
PJ Washington (DAL Mavericks)	O/U 12.5
Dereck Lively II (DAL Mavericks)	O/U 7.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.