T.M. Selection: Dallas Mavericks.

I like the Dallas Mavericks to cover the spread against the Charlotte Hornets in this game on Saturday. The Mavericks have looked really good in their games lately but they just tripped up in their most recent game with a loss in Philly to the 76ers by 10 points. They had won 3 games in a row before that loss and they even had 8/9 wins in their previous 9 games before that loss too. I think they have been playing at a very high level lately and they have been building up big runs over the last few weeks, trying to get themselves in a better position for the playoffs. This is a team that is destined for the playoffs this year and I expect them to get a bounce back win in this game. The Hornets have not been having a great year and they are barely on the cusp of making the playoffs as they hold down the 10th place spot at the moment. The Hornets have looked better lately with 3 wins in a row but their 3 wins have been against much weaker teams than what the Mavericks have seen lately and before they won 3 games in a row they actually lost 2 games in a row to teams that the Mavericks have just beaten. I'm not saying that the Mavericks are going to win this game because of that, that's not the case, but there is a significant difference in talent between these 2 teams and I expect the Mavericks to get the job done here as long as their star Luka Doncic is on the court, which he will be. Doncic has been getting a lot of offensive help from his teammates lately too and I think this is a better Mavericks team than the one that Doncic was carrying them in every game. They have become a more rounded team now as the season winds down and I expect them to win this game with no issues. I like the Mavericks to cover the spread here.

T.M. Prediction: 124-116 Mavericks.