Pro Hoops on Thursday night and we will see the Miami Heat travel to the Lone Star State to take on the Dallas Mavericks. The game is scheduled for a 9:30 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised live on TNT. Currently the odds for the game have Miami favored by 5.5 points while the total sits at 201. Check out Sportsbook Spy to see who the Public is taking on all of today's games.
Free Analysis: Miami has won four of five after losing consecutive games for the first time this season. Miami continued its strong fourth-quarter play in the win over the Timberwolves. The Heat never trailed in the final period, marking the 10th time this season and fourth time in the last five games they maintained the lead throughout the quarter. Superstar LeBron James is the first player to score at least 20 points in each of his team's first 22 games since Utah's Karl Malone in 1989-90. James is averaging 30.4 points in his last seven regular-season meetings with the Mavericks. The Heat are looking for their first three-game winning streak against the Mavericks since capturing 16 in a row from 1992-99. On Tuesday, in a 103-92 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, James went off for 22 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Wade led the way with 24 points and Bosh added 15. The Heat held the Wolves to 23.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line and Miami blocked 14 shots. But, in a somewhat alarming statistic, the Heat were outrebounded by 29. The Heat rank 29th in rebounding.
While receiving good news regarding Dirk Nowitzki, the Dallas Mavericks may be shorthanded when they host the reigning champion Miami Heat on national television on Thursday. Nowitzki on Wednesday participated in his first practice since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 19 and is hoping to make his season debut shortly after Christmas. However, Dallas will be without point guard Derek Fisher for its meeting with Miami tonight. Fisher hurt his right knee during an awkward fall in the first quarter of Tuesday's home triumph over Philadelphia, which halted Dallas' three-game skid. Brand suffered a groin injury and Wright sprained his right ankle in the same contest and are both game time decisions. Like Miami, the Mavs aren't a great rebounding team either. In fact, their rebounding differential of minus-4.4 a night puts them dead last in the NBA. Dallas snapped a three-game losing streak on Tuesday with a 107-100 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. O.J. Mayo paced the Mavericks with 26 points and eight assists and Chris Kaman chipped in 20 points and seven boards. The Mavericks have allowed fewer than 90 points only once this season.
Dallas, which is 6-0 at home against Eastern Conference foes, is 8-3 overall at American Airlines Center. The Heat are only 4-4 on the road and have dropped 10 of the last 12 in Big D.
Free Pick: I will go with Miami in this one. The Mavs are a bit beat up and you need your gun fully loaded when about to take on the Heat. Miami is a team that wears you down as the game goes on and that has been evident by their strong 4th quarter play. That will not be good for the shorthanded Mavs. Miami swept the season series last year and will take this one as they pull away late.
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Johnny Detroit from Pregame.com talks with Bryan Leonard about him reaching the finals of the Cantor Gaming Football Championship. He is the only 2 time finals participant in this contest. The championship is being held at The M Casino on Friday and simulcast on ESPN1100 Radio here in Las Vegas from 2-3PM Pacific.