The Brooklyn Nets (11-25) and Dallas Mavericks (14-25) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The game will be broadcast live on YES.
The Mavericks are 4-point favorites over the Nets on the spread (Mavericks -4), with the over/under set at 221.5 total points. Dallas is a -165 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Brooklyn is +135 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Nets vs. Mavericks predictions and NBA picks for Monday, January 12.
Nets vs Mavericks Prediction
- Nets vs Mavericks pick: Under 221.5 (-110)
My Mavericks vs Nets best bet is on the under total points, with the best price currently available at bet365. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Nets vs Mavericks Odds
| Nets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -110 | 221.5 -110o / -110u | +135 |
| Mavericks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -110 | 221.5 -110o / -110u | -165 |
Nets vs Mavericks NBA Preview, Picks
The Dallas Mavericks return home Monday night to face the Brooklyn Nets, opening a favorable stretch in the schedule that could help them gain ground in the Western Conference standings.
Dallas will play 10 of its next 13 games at American Airlines Center, an opportunity to stabilize after a rough stretch away from home that included a blowout loss in Chicago to close a three-game road trip.
While the Mavericks are just 10-10 at home, the volume of games in Dallas gives them a chance to find rhythm before the All-Star break.
That task is complicated by a lengthy injury report.
Anthony Davis is expected to miss time after suffering ligament damage in his hand joining Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum on the sidelines.
P.J. Washington and Brandon Williams are both listed as doubtful, leaving Dallas severely shorthanded, particularly in the frontcourt and shot creation.
Even with Jason Kidd returning to the bench after serving a suspension, continuity has been hard to come by.
Brooklyn arrives in Dallas struggling to find consistency of its own. The Nets are coming off a 103-98 loss in Memphis, their sixth defeat in seven games, despite knocking down 18 three-pointers.
Efficiency inside the arc was a major issue in that game, and the offense leaned heavily on secondary options like Noah Clowney and Tyrese Martin.
Leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. (in the center of trade rumors ahead of the deadline) sat out for rest purposes but could return here, though even with him, Brooklyn has lacked offensive reliability.
Given Dallas’ thin rotation, the Nets may try to exploit the paint with Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe, but overall this shapes up as a matchup between two teams searching for stability rather than offensive fireworks.
Nets vs Mavericks Prediction, Betting Analysis
This game fits squarely into our “Home Dictate Unders” system.
Dallas typically prefers to play with pace, but injuries have forced the Mavericks into a more controlled, half-court style, especially at home where teams often dictate tempo more effectively.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, is a slower-paced visitor that struggles to score efficiently, particularly in competitive games where possessions become more deliberate.
When a faster home team faces a slower road opponent, the home environment often controls the flow rather than inflating it. Oddsmakers tend to price totals based on season-long averages, but matchup dynamics matter more here.
With a modest spread, limited offensive firepower on both sides, and increased reliance on half-court sets late, possessions should be fewer than expected.
Add in Dallas’ depleted lineup and Brooklyn’s recent scoring woes, and this sets up as a game where the pace never truly takes off.
So, let's take the Under at 221.5 total points on Monday night.
Pick: Under 221.5 (-110)
Mavericks vs Nets Betting Trends
