Mavericks vs. Sixers odds, line, spread: 2021 NBA picks, Feb. 25 predictions from model on 85-49 roll

Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks take on Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday evening. Thursday's star-studded showdown is featured in a prime national television window, with all eyes on the Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia is an elite team at home, posting a 13-2 record, and that helps the 76ers (21-11) to lead the Eastern Conference. Dallas (15-15) is scratching and clawing their way up the Western Conference standings, arriving in Philadelphia with a .500 record.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET in Philadelphia. William Hill Sportsbook lists the 76ers as five-point home favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 229 in the latest Sixers vs. Mavericks odds. Before you make any Mavericks vs. Sixers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. The model also is up almost $8,700 on top-rated NBA picks over the past two-plus seasons. Dating back to last season, it enters Week 10 of the 2020-21 NBA schedule on a stunning 85-49 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Mavericks vs. Sixers. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Sixers vs. Mavericks:
• DAL: The Mavericks are 4-6 against the spread in the last 10 games
• PHI: The 76ers are 4-6 against the spread in the last 10 games

Why the Mavericks can cover



Doncic carries one of the league's most intriguing offenses. Doncic is averaging 28.9 points, 9.2 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game this season, and he converted a game-winner in the team's last outing against Boston. Overall, the Mavericks are scoring almost 1.13 points per possession, but that jumps to more than 1.21 points per possession in the last nine games.

Dallas is No. 3 in the NBA in ball security, committing a turnover on only 12.2 percent of possessions, and the Mavericks are also No. 6 in the league in free throw creation rate while generating above-average shooting efficiency. Dallas could be able to win the possession battle as well, with the 76ers entering this matchup as a bottom-five team in turnover rate, giving the ball away on 15.4 percent of offensive possessions.

Why the 76ers can cover

Headlined by Embiid and Ben Simmons, Philadelphia is a stifling defensive team. The Sixers are allowing only 1.09 points per possession this season, ranking near the top of the NBA in defensive efficiency. Philadelphia is No. 6 in the league in effective field goal percentage allowed (52.4 percent), and the Sixers are a top-three team in both blocks (6.1 per game) and steals (8.5 per game) for the season.

On the offensive side, the Sixers lead the NBA in free throw rate, and the Mavericks are poor at keeping their opponents off the charity stripe. Philadelphia is also a top-flight offensive rebounding team, securing 29.3 percent of its own missed shots, and Dallas is shaky in the area of defensive rebounding. All told, the Sixers are capable of beating a Mavericks defense that ranks just 25th in the league in points allowed per possession.

How to make Sixers vs. Mavericks picks

SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, projecting both teams combine for 224 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 50 percent of simulations. You can get that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Mavericks vs. Sixers? And which side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.