Mavericks vs. Spurs Prediction and Odds for October 24: Wemby, Luka Go to Battle

The Dallas Mavericks, fresh off of a trip to the NBA Finals, will host the San Antonio Spurs as both teams get their season started on Thursday night.

The Spurs finished with the second-worst record in the Western Conference last year but are hoping the leadership of veteran Chris Paul will help superstar talent Victor Wembanyama punch through his ceiling.

Meanwhile, the Mavs will be joined by longtime Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson for the first time as they look to avenge a loss in the final round of the playoffs.

Here, we will analyze the betting odds and share our favorite picks for the Mavericks vs. Spurs showdown.

Mavericks vs. Spurs Betting Odds for Thursday, October 24

The Spurs were 44-38 (53.7 percent) against the spread last year. That included being 22-19 (53.7 percent) ATS on the road and 37-36 (50.7 percent) ATS as the underdog. 

The Mavericks finished with the second-best record ATS at 60-43-1 (58.3 percent). They were also 26-25 (51 percent) ATS at home and 39-23 (62.9 percent) ATS as the favorite,

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Mavericks vs. Spurs Prediction

San Antonio Spurs Preview

The Spurs’ 2023-24 campaign was dedicated to growth and building for the future, not competing in the short term. They went through several stretches where they’d have an elite defense and one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the league, though they ultimately finished 22-60 with the sixth-worst net rating.

The burning question is what the second-year leap will look like for Wembanyama. He averaged an absurd 26 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 4.3 blocks per 36 minutes as a rookie while also being one of the most efficient stepback three-point shooters in the game—all at 7-foot-4.

In addition to Paul, veteran Harrison Barnes will serve a key role as a two-way player and a steady presence to help the Spurs keep their identity from game to game, whereas they were inconsistent and unreliable last year.

The Spurs also added athleticism to their bench with first-round pick and guard Stephon Castle, who just won a national championship at UConn. 

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Dallas Mavericks Preview

The Mavs were one of the best teams in basketball after they acquired Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington just before the trade deadline. They made a run all the way to the Finals, where they quickly found out that they were no match for the Celtics.

One of Dallas’ biggest issues in the Finals was their inability to take and make three-pointers, which is something they had excelled at throughout the postseason. That was because Boston took away corner threes and exposed their lack of movement shooting. 

As a response, the Mavs went out and signed one of the best shooters in the sport’s history, Klay Thompson. The 34-year-old might not be as effective of a two-way player as he was in his prime, but he averaged 17.9 points and 38.7 three-point shooting in a “down” year last year.

The Mavs have rim protection with Gafford and Dereck Lively II and individual creators with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. They dominated clutch time last year and will be better following their experience in the Finals last year. 

Dallas’ biggest concern is their perimeter defense. None of Doncic, Irving, or (at this stage of his career) Thompson are great ball stoppers. The same applies to Jaden Hardy and Spencer Dinwiddie, who figure to be a part of the bench rotation.

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Mavericks vs. Spurs Betting Pick

• Mavericks vs. Spurs pick: Spurs +8.5 (-115) at BetMGM

Dallas went through a spurt of stagnance before it got red-hot and ripped off a Finals run. Their ability to stop opposing guards is a concern, and they sacrificed their best on-ball defender, Derrick Jones Jr., for an older Thompson who is trying to learn a new system of offense.

The Spurs were highly inconsistent last year but now have steady veterans to pace them. There’s also a chance that Wembanyama becomes one of the three best players in the world this season, which would raise their ceiling quite significantly.

The Spurs lost to Dallas on opening night last year before they won three of their next four games. They’re a better team now and are growing, whereas Dallas is hoping that major changes will push it over the edge(look how that worked out for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks).

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How to Watch Mavericks vs. Spurs on 10/24/24

• When: Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6:30/7:30 p.m. CT/ET

• Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

• TV: TNT

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