Monday night in the NBA will see the Denver Nuggets travel to the lone Star State to take on the Dallas Mavericks. The game is scheduled for a 8:30 pm tipoff and will be televised live locally. Currently Dallas is favored by 3.5 points with the total being set at 204 for this game. The Mavericks raised the franchise's first NBA title banner on Christmas Day but it was the Heat that played like champs. Now they try and rebound vs the Denver Nuggets tonight.
Free Analysis: Just six months removed from their first-ever NBA title, the Mavericks appeared to be suffering from a hangover of sorts. The abbreviated two-game preseason -- a product of the league's lengthy lockout -- also appeared to diminish a Dallas team which underwent a noticeable offseason overhaul. Gone are Tyson Chandler (to New York), J.J. Barea (Minnesota) and likely DeShawn Stevenson. Chandler will be the toughest piece to replace, as he had become the heart of the Dallas defense. Key acquisition Lamr Odom had a terrible Mavericks debut with four points, four rebounds and four fouls in 13 minutes. The reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year was 1 of 6 from the field before getting ejected in the third quarter. Jason Terry led Dallas with 23 points while star Dirk Nowitzki added 21 on 6-of-15 shooting in the 11 point loss to the Heat. The game was not as close as the final would indicate as the Mavs trailed by 32 entering the 4th quarter. The Mavericks lost both home games against the Nuggets last season, going 1-3 in the season series. Three of those meetings, however, came when Carmelo Anthony was with Denver. The Nuggets, meanwhile, will be embarking on its first full season without superstar Carmelo Anthony since 2002-03. Early returns were impressive when the team finished 18-7 after trading Anthony to New York, earning its fourth consecutive 50-win season as well as an eighth straight postseason appearance, one that ended in a first round loss to Oklahoma City. One reason for optimism is that Denver re-signed its top two free agents, Nene and Arron Afflalo. Nene averaged 14.5 points last season and Afflalo a career-best 12.6. "These guys are very valuable to the organization, and they are very skilled players," general manager Masai Ujiri told the Nuggets' official website. "Rather than go out and find players like them, I think you keep the ones you have." Point guard Andre Miller came over from Portland for a second stint with the team while the Nuggets also acquired perimeter players Corey Brewer and Rudy Fernandez from Dallas on Dec. 13. Denver has won 3 in a row and are 9-3 in their last 12 vs the Mavs and included in that is an 8-1 ATS run for Denver.
Free Pick: Gonna have to go with the Over here. The Mavs last night showed that their defense is truly behind the offense as they allowed 97 points to the Heat through 3 quarters last night. Dallas on offense did pick it up a bit in the 4th quarter and that should carry over to tonight vs a Denver team that usually plays little defense. The Nuggets are a new look team that really doesn't have a go to guy, but the Nuggets were able to re-sign their top two free agents, Nene and Arron Afflalo. Last season, Nene logged a career high-tying 14.5 per game to go with 7.6 rebounds, while also leading the league in shooting percentage. Afflalo added a career-best 12.6 ppg. The Nuggets are in great shape in the backcourt with point guards Ty Lawson and veteran Andre Miller. This is a team that will run alot. I can see this game hitting about 210.