Atlanta Hawks at Dallas Mavericks 2011 NBA Preview, Odds, and Predictions: Guard Joe Johnson will lead the Atlanta Hawks on the road to American Airlines Center to take on a hobbled Dirk Nowitzki and his Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night at 8:30 PM ET on NBA TV. The Hawks enter the game winning 1 and 7-3 in their last 10 at 30-17 3rd in the Southeast while the Mavericks come in winning 3 in a row at 30-15 2nd in the Southwest. Dirk is still not 100% after missing nine games with a sore knee. “Not very well, but it’s getting better,” Nowitzki said of his conditioning. “Moving better again, especially in the first half, but in the second half I got a little fatigued. But I’ve got to keep on fighting, and eventually I’ll get there.”
The Hawks may be without Marvin Williams who was ejected last night for a fight with New York’s Shawne Williams. “I’ve never seen him snap like that,” coach Larry Drew. ‘It’s an emotional game. Sometimes these things happen. Hopefully whatever the penalty is, it won’t be too severe.” The odds makers at Brobury have the Dallas Mavericks a -5 1/2 point favorite at home against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Mavs winning streak came recently 111-106 at home to the Houston Rockets moving them to 21-22-2 ATS for the season. Center Tyson Chandler led the Mavs with 21 points and 15 rebounds while Dirk Nowitzki added 18 points 2 rebounds and 3 assists. Guard-forward Sasha Pavlovic and Jason Kidd both chipped in 11 points each to lead the starters. Dallas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Atlanta. Vegas odds makers have the Dallas Mavericks +1850 to win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship.
The Atlanta Hawks are coming off a 111-102 home victory against the New York Knicks moving them to 22-25 ATS for the season. Guard Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 34 points 8 boards and 7 assist in 41 minutes of play. Forward Josh Smith also had an outstanding game scoring 24 points to go with 9 rebounds and 4 dimes. Atlanta is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road and the total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 6 games when playing on the road against Dallas. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 189 1/2 points combined of the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks.
I predict a Dallas victory at home.
Note: Rich Fritz is a Blog Writer on NSAwins.com and not a pro handicapper. For expert NFL Football Predictions against the Vegas spreads please visit the NSAwins.com homepage for top predictions today from the National Sports Advisors.