Sixers vs. Mavericks NBA expert prediction and odds for Sunday, March 3 (Lay the points with Dallas)

The Dallas Mavericks are looking to get back in the win column on Sunday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Center. 

Philly is looking to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff picture without Joel Embiid, but the team is just 4-6 in its last 10 games, including blowout losses to playoff-caliber teams like Boston, Milwaukee and New York. 

With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both healthy, can Dallas take care of business as a major home favorite? 

Let’s dive into the odds and my best bet for this game: 

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Sixers vs. Mavericks odds, spread and total

Sixers vs. Mavericks how to watch

• Date: Sunday, March 3
• Time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Venue: American Airlines Center
• How to watch (TV): ABC
• Sixers record: 34-25 
• Mavericks record: 34-26

Sixers vs. Mavericks injury reports

Philadelphia 76ers injury report

• Jeff Dowtin Jr. – out
• Robert Covington – out
• Joel Embiid – out
• Kenneth Lofton Jr. – out
• KJ Martin – questionable
• Kelly Oubre Jr. – questionable
• Terquavion Smith – out
• De’Anthony Melton – out

Dallas Mavericks injury report

• Greg Brown III – out
• A.J. Lawson – out
• Dereck Lively II – available
• Brandon Williams – out

Sixers vs. Mavericks key players to watch

Philadelphia 76ers

Tyrese Maxey: Over his last eight games, Maxey has been terrific for the Sixers, averaging 28.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from 3. He dropped 33 in the Sixers’ win over Charlotte on Friday. 

Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic: An MVP candidate, Doncic has 30 or more points in five straight games, and he put together a triple-double on Friday against Boston in a loss. The last time these teams played, Luka scored just 19 points in a 16-point win. Can he show Philly why he’s the MVP this season with a big performance? 

Sixers vs. Mavericks prediction and pick

The Mavericks have not been great as home favorites this season, but I have zero interest in taking Philly after how it has played against elevated competition. 

Dallas comes into this game at 9-10 against the spread as a home favorite, but it blew this Philly team out at Wells Fargo Center earlier this season. The Sixers are just 8-17 without Joel Embiid this season, and the team lost by double digits to Boston, Milwaukee and New York out of the All-Star break. 

The only impressive win the Sixers have since the All-Star break is against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that didn’t have All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell. 

I expect Dallas’ offense to control this game, as the team is seventh in the league in offensive rating while the Sixers are 23rd in offense and 26th in net rating over their last 10 games. 

Lay the points with Dallas in this matinee matchup. 

Pick: Mavericks - 8 (-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.