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NBA Playoff Odds: Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets Game 1

Written by Jimmy Boyd

mavs nugs game 1 5109 The Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets kick off their second round Western Conference Playoff Series on Sunday, May 3 at 3:30 pm EST in a nationally televised contest on ABC. The Mavericks defeated division rival San Antonio in 5 games and the Nuggets took care of the Hornets in 5 games as well to advance to the second round. NBA odds makers have given the home team the advantage in Game 1, listing the Denver Nuggets as 5.5-point favorites with the total set at 206.5.

The Dallas Mavericks were playing, perhaps, the best basketball of any team in the Western Conference heading into the playoffs, and they have continued that solid play in the postseason, making quick work of Tim Duncan and company in round one. Dallas has now won 11 of its last 14 games, and proved to have too much offensive fire power for the Spurs. San Antonio was able to hold former league MVP Dirk Nowitzky and NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jason Terry in check, but Dallas proved that it could win without major contributions from it’s two biggest stars. Josh Howard hardly flies under the radar anymore, but most experts deemed him the X-Factor going in, and he certainly turned out to be the difference maker for the Mavs, averaging 18.8 points per game and coming up huge on both ends of the floor. Unlike the Spurs, who were without Manu Ginobli, the Nuggets have offensive fire power to match Dallas. Denver figures to really test a Mavericks team, which was just average defensively during the regular season. If you think Dallas can start off its second round playoff series just like it did its first, with a road win, bet the Mavericks at +5.5 at BetUS.

The Denver Nuggets were arguably the most dominant team in the Western Conference during round one with all four of its wins coming by 15 points or more, including that 58-point blowout in New Orleans. The Nuggets were 33-8 at home during the regular season, and they face a Mavericks team that was just 18-23 on the road. But the Mavs have clearly played better away from home than that record would have you believe in the playoffs with two victories at San Antonio. While Denver has been known as a team that just tries to outscore its opponents since George Karl took over as head coach, he has found a way to get his team to play defense, or should I say Chauncey Billups has. The Nuggets have undergone a transformation since Billups came to town with the team picking up some of the toughness that he brings to the table each night on both ends of the court. Billups was sensational in round one, averaging 22.6 points per game and 7.4 assists per contest. Denver has one of the best benches in the NBA and players like J.R. Smith and “The Bird Man” will once again be vital to the Nuggets success, especially since they will be tested more by Dallas’ second unit than they were by the Hornets’. If you like Denver to get off to a fast start in this series, bet the Nuggets at -5.5 at BetUS and receive up to 145 percent in sign up bonuses.

Do your NBA betting this postseason on Jimmy Boyd’s NBA expert picks for consistent cash collecting.

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