Dallas Mavericks vs Utah Jazz Player Prop Picks NBA Picks 11/14/24

This West Coast matchup between the Mavericks and Jazz brings some intrigue. The Mavericks are led by Luka Doncic, posting 28.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game, and Kyrie Irving, contributing 25.2 points per game. While they’ve faced recent road losses to the Suns and Warriors, Dallas reached the NBA Finals last season and remains a strong contender. They’ve displayed reliable offensive output, averaging 114.4 points per game and allowing 111 points on average.

In contrast, the Jazz have struggled with consistency and sit near the bottom of the West with a 2-8 record. Their offense relies heavily on Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George, especially with Walker Kessler sidelined by injury. This game will challenge Utah to keep up with Dallas’s offensive depth and efficiency, especially if the Mavericks take advantage of their strong three-point shooting and ball movement. If Utah can strengthen its defense and minimize turnovers, it might be able to exploit any defensive weaknesses in Dallas, which has shown some vulnerabilities on that side of the court.

Luka Doncic Over 8.5 Assists 

Luka Doncic has been a strong playmaker for the Mavericks, averaging about 8.5 assists per game. His court vision and passing accuracy have helped him consistently create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Dončić has regularly recorded double-digit assists in several games this season, highlighting his role as a central facilitator in Dallas’s offense. His ability to attract defenders and make precise passes keeps him among the top assist leaders this season.

We’ve seen him have a 15-assist game against the Pacers and a 13-assist game against the Bulls. Both those teams play poor defense. Do you know who else plays poor defense? The Utah Jazz. They’re allowing 28.8 assists per game to opposing teams which is the 4th most in the league. This is a great spot for Luka to fill up the stats sheet. I expect a double-digit assist night for Luka on Thursday.

Lauri Markkanen Over 7.5 Rebounds

Lauri Markkanen has consistently been one of the Jazz’s top rebounders over recent seasons. He got off to a strong start this year, averaging 8.5 rebounds per game through his first four games, but has slowed down lately. In his last three matchups, he recorded seven rebounds against the Bucks, six against the Spurs, and just two in a challenging game versus the Suns.

Despite his recent dip in rebounding numbers, I’m optimistic about his chances to bounce back in this game. The Dallas Mavericks are currently allowing 56.3 rebounds per game to opponents, ranking third-highest in the league. Additionally, it appears that Walker Kessler, the Jazz’s primary rebounder, will be out for this matchup, putting more responsibility on Markkanen to fill the gap. This could be a great opportunity to buy low on Markkanen’s rebound potential.

Klay Thompson Over 15.5 Points

Klay Thompson has shown consistency as a scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game. His shooting has been solid, hitting 41.7% from the field and making 37.2% of his three-point attempts. Thompson has contributed around 3.2 three-point shots per game on 8.5 attempts. His scoring has varied by game, with highs including a 22-point performance in his debut, showcasing his continued effectiveness as a perimeter shooter for Dallas.

Klay Thompson matched his season high on Tuesday scoring 22 points again against his old team. As the season goes on Thompson continues to gel more with his new team and it’s shown in recent performances. I expect another big game for Klay in this matchup against the Jazz. The Jazz are allowing 119 points per game to opposing teams which is way above the league average. Utah also allows 14.8 three-pointers per game which is the 4th highest in the league. This sets up perfectly for a big game from Klay.