Mavericks vs. Raptors NBA expert prediction and odds for Wednesday, Feb. 28 (Trend favors Dallas)

The Toronto Raptors have won three straight games out of the All-Star break, but they’ll face a tough test on Wednesday night against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. 

Dallas is on the second night of a back-to-back after losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Cleveland Cavaliers on a Max Strus game-winning shot from three-quarter court. 

Can the team put that loss behind it and pick up a win in Toronto?

The Mavericks have thrived as road favorites this season, going 11-3 against the spread, but they’ll have to hold off a Toronto team that is coming off a win on the road as an underdog. The young Raptors could be figuring things out over the final stretch of this season. 

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Let’s break down the odds, key players and a pick for this matchup: 

Mavericks vs. Raptors odds, spread and total

Mavericks vs. Raptors how to watch

• Date: Wednesday, Feb. 28
• Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
• Venue: Scotiabank Arena
• How to watch (TV): Sportsnet CA, Bally Sports Southwest
• Mavericks record: 33-25
• Raptors record: 22-36

Mavericks vs. Raptors injury reports

Mavericks injury report

• Not submitted yet

Raptors injury report

• Javon Freeman-Liberty – out
• Markquis Nowell – out
• Jontay Porter – out
• Jakob Poeltl – questionable

Mavericks vs. Raptors key players to watch

Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic: It’s Doncic’s birthday on Wednesday! In the Mavericks’ loss to the Cavs, Doncic had a massive game, scoring 45 points and dishing out 14 dimes in a near triple-double performance (he fell one rebound short). The MVP candidate should be a tough cover for Toronto – as he is for any team. Luka dropped 31 against the Raptors in a loss earlier this season. 

Toronto Raptors

Immanuel Quickley: Over Toronto’s three-game winning streak, Quickley is shooting 14-for-26 from beyond the arc, scoring 24, 24 and 19 points in those games. The young point guard is coming into his own in Toronto, and the team is hoping he can prove that he’s worth a major extension this coming offseason. 

Mavericks vs. Raptors prediction and pick

This is a tricky matchup to handicap, especially since we don’t know the status of the Mavericks’ key players on the second night of a back-to-back. 

I’d be surprised to see Doncic sit, but he did play over 40 minutes in the loss on Tuesday night. There is also a chance the team rests Kyrie Irving, who has been dealing with injuries all season long. 

Despite that, this number is too short for me to fade the Mavericks against a Toronto team that could be in a sell-high spot after three straight wins. 

The Raptors are just 22-36 on the season, and they’ve struggled as home dogs – going 5-7 against the spread. 

At this point in the season, there are a few trends worth following on almost every occasion, especially one like Dallas’ road favorite trend where it has covered in 78.6 percent of games. 

I’ll take Dallas here and hope that at least Doncic suits up on the second night of a back-to-back. 

Pick: Mavericks -2.5 (-110)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.