Mavericks Favored to Defeat Hornets in Thursday Night Showdown

DALLAS, Texas — The Dallas Mavericks will host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 8:30 p.m. ET at American Airlines Center. Currently, the Mavericks rank ninth in the Western Conference with a record of 31-28, while the Hornets sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference with a dismal 14-43 record.

Dallas enters the game as a 9.5-point favorite, with SportsLine consensus odds predicting an over/under of 222 total points scored. The Mavericks have won two of their last three matchups against the Hornets and have managed to cover the spread in four of five meetings. Recent performance has been a mixed bag; the Mavericks are coming off a 107-99 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, despite Kyrie Irving‘s standout performance of 35 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

“I tried to do everything I could, but it wasn’t enough,” Irving stated following the loss. “We need to regroup and come out stronger next game.”

These Mavericks have been effective against the spread lately, covering in eight of their last nine games. Additionally, they have successfully covered the spread in their last six home games, illustrating a strong home-court advantage.

The Hornets, meanwhile, are reeling from a 128-92 defeat to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. LaMelo Ball missed that game due to an ankle injury but has been a key player this season, averaging 26.3 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game. His potential return could boost Charlotte’s performance significantly.

“We’re trying to play it safe with LaMelo,” said Hornets coach. “We’re hopeful he will be back in the lineup against Dallas.”

In their prior matchup this season on January 20, the Hornets secured a 110-105 victory over the Mavericks as 4-point underdogs. The upcoming game marks a critical point for both teams as they look to boost their standings ahead of the playoffs.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulated the game 10,000 times, leaning towards the under with a projection of 213 total points combined. The model indicates that one side of the spread is likely to hit nearly 60% of the time, a trend bettors will want to consider.

The Mavericks are also backed by solid statistics, scoring an average of 115.1 points per game while allowing 113.4 points against. In comparison, the Hornets rank near the bottom of the league with an average of 105.4 points scored and 112.9 points allowed per game.

Fans can catch the action on KFAA and FDSSE as the Mavericks look to extend their three-game home winning streak and the Hornets aim to shift momentum in their favor.