:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71962161/usa_today_19951283.0.jpg "NBA picks: Mavericks vs. Kings prediction, odds, over/under, spread, injury report")
We have a potential Western Conference playoff matchup to look forward to this evening as the Dallas Mavericks (30-26) continue their five-game road trip when meeting the Sacramento Kings (31-23) at 10 p.m. ET. This is the first of back-to-back matchups between the two squads as they're set to meet again on Saturday.
Dallas came out victorious in Kyrie Irving's debut on Wednesday, toppling the Clippers in a 110-104 victory. The Mavs stormed out the gate with 41 points in the first quarter as their newly acquired star settled right in with Luka Doncic sitting out with a right heel contusion. Irving finished the game with 24 points and five assists in 37 minutes of action. As for Doncic, he is listed as questionable for tonight's contest after sitting out the last three games.
Sacramento handled its business earlier in the week, picking up back-to-back road victories over lowly Houston. The Kings' 130-128 victory on Wednesday came down to the literal final second as Eric Gordon fouled De'Aaron Fox on a three-point attempt with just 0.3 seconds remaining. Fox buried all three free throws to lift the Kings to the win and that ended up being Gordon's final play with the Rockets before being traded the following day.
Sacramento enters the game as a 2-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is installed at 234.
Mavericks vs. Kings, 10 p.m. ET
Pick ATS: Kings -2
While successful Wednesday, the Mavericks are still ironing things out with their new lineup and Doncic's status for tonight's game is up in the air. I trust the Kings more on the front end of a home back-to-back and that's backed up by them having an excellent 29-24-1 record against the spread. Take Sacramento to cover as a slight favorite tonight.
Over/Under: Under 234
Even before the trade, Dallas games have barely clocked over 220 as of late and I expect tonight to be no different as the team settles into its new reality. Go with the under tonight.