Dallas Mavericks (31-28) vs Charlotte Hornets (14-43)
Game Info: Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 8:30 pm (American Airlines Center)
Betting Odds: Dallas Mavericks -10 -- Over/Under: 223.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: KFAA-TV
The Dallas Mavericks are set to host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Mavericks, currently holding a 31-28 record, are aiming to rebound from a recent 8-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, despite a 35-point performance by Kyrie Irving. The team has been adjusting to the absence of Anthony Davis, who has played only one game since joining the Mavericks. In addition to Davis, key players such as Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Caleb Martin are also sidelined due to injuries.
On the other hand, the Charlotte Hornets, with a 14-43 record, are on a four-game losing streak, including a recent 128-92 defeat to the Golden State Warriors. In that game, the Hornets struggled offensively, shooting 37.1% from the field and converting only 11 of their 40 three-point attempts. LaMelo Ball, averaging 26.3 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game this season, remains a pivotal player for Charlotte.
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Kyrie Irving Over 25.5 Points
Kyrie Irving has been a pivotal player for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2024-25 NBA season. Over 47 games, he has averaged 24.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 47.5%. Notably, Irving was initially overlooked for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. However, following an injury to his teammate Anthony Davis, Irving was selected as a replacement, marking his ninth All-Star appearance.
Since Luka Doncic got traded to the Lakers, Kyrie has taken over as the leading scorer for this Mavericks team. We've seen him score 30 or more points, and four of his last five games were highlighted by a 42-point game against the Golden State Warriors. With how banged up this Mavericks team is right now, Kyrie has to do most of the scoring, and until Dallas gets healthy again, I'll continue to take the over on his points.
P.J. Washington Over 8.5 Rebounds
P.J. Washington Jr. has been a key contributor to the Dallas Mavericks' frontcourt during the 2024-25 NBA season. Over 35 games, he has averaged 8.2 rebounds per game, ranking 21st in the league. This marks a significant improvement from the previous season (2023-24), where Washington averaged 5.6 rebounds per game over 73 games.
With how banged up this Dallas frontcourt is, PJ Washington has had to step up in a big way when it comes to a rebounding perspective. He's coming off a game where he secured 10 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers, and he has another good matchup playing the Charlotte Hornets team. The Hornets are weak in the paint, giving up 53.8 rebounds per game to opposing teams, which is the 5th most in the league. Expect P.J. Washington to have another solid night on the glass.
Klay Thompson Over 2.5 Three Pointers
Klay Thompson has been a significant contributor to the Dallas Mavericks' offense during the 2024-25 NBA season. Over 51 games, he has averaged 13.9 points per game, with a notable emphasis on three-point shooting. Thompson has made an average of 3.1 three-pointers per game out of 7.8 attempts, resulting in a 39.8% success rate from beyond the arc.
This performance underscores Thompson's continued proficiency as a sharpshooter, maintaining a near 40% accuracy from three-point range. His ability to consistently convert long-range shots has been instrumental in spacing the floor and providing the Mavericks with a reliable perimeter scoring option. We've seen Klay make two over two three-pointers in seven of his last eight games, and he's coming off a game where he scored 5 3-pointers against the Lakers. Klay Thompson has one job, and that's to hit threes, and I expect him to have another good night from beyond the arc going against this Hornets team.
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AUTHOR: Brad Francis
