NBA: Dallas at Orlando (8:00 PM ET, ESPN)

NBA Friday finds two games on ESPN, with the first one matching the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic. The new-look Mavericks aren’t commanding a whole lot of respect from oddsmakers, as they’ve been installed as 6-point dogs on the road for this one, ac

2010-02-19

NBA Friday finds two games on ESPN, with the first one matching the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic. The new-look Mavericks aren’t commanding a whole lot of respect from oddsmakers, as they’ve been installed as 6-point dogs on the road for this one, according to Sportsbook.com.

Carron Butler isn’t off to a great start with the Dallas Mavericks, but he could be in line for a big game his next time out against one of his favorite opponents. The Southwest Division-leading Mavericks have split two games with their new players, with Butler shooting 31.3 percent (10 for 32) and averaging 14.0 points.

The veteran swingman, though, has excelled this season against Orlando (37-18, 26-25-4 ATS), averaging 27.0 points in two wins for Washington. He scored 31 points and hit a 19-foot jumper with 0.5 seconds left to cap a rally from 21 down in a 92-91 win Feb. 10 in his last visit to Orlando.

The Southeast Division-leading Magic remember that shot well. “He played for the Wizards, not Dallas so the Wizards beat us,” guard Vince Carter said. “Right now, it’s our next opponent and that’s just who’s in our way.”

Haywood could be the bigger factor Friday as he’ll try to contain Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard, who averaged 21.5 points and 15.0 rebounds going up against the former Wizards big man this season. Haywood, though, was also fairly productive with averages of 11.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in those games.

Dallas used strong defense against the league’s highest-scoring team to win 107-97 at home over Phoenix on Wednesday, unfortunately they are just 28-44 ATS after a win by 10 points or more over the last three seasons.

Orlando opened a three-game homestand with a 116-91 rout of Detroit on Wednesday. Howard had 33 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks in the Magic’s eighth win in 10 games. Orlando has had consecutive slow defense starts and they are 8-2 ATS after allowing 55 points or more in the first half in two straight games.

They finish this home stretch against two contenders, facing league-leading Cleveland on Sunday. The Mavericks and Cavaliers have both made major moves before the trade deadline, but Orlando is seemingly content with its roster.

“We wanna win a championship,” Howard said. “We can’t focus in on what other teams are doing. We have to focus in on what we’re doing to get better.” Part of what Howard and teammates have done IS win and they are 73-46 ATS having won two of their last three contests since 2007-08 campaign.

The Mavs have won five of six against the Magic (3-3 ATS), taking three straight in Orlando, all covers. Nowitzki is averaging 26.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in those games for Dallas, which is trying to avoid its first three-game road slide. They are 13-5 OVER after scoring 105 points or more this season. Though not as dreadful as the Mavs, the Magic haven’t exactly had a lucky rabbit’s foot, with a 5-11 ATS mark when coming off a cover.

Sportsbook.com has the Mavericks receiving six-points with total of 201.5. Here is where it gets weird. Are you ready for this; Dallas hasn’t covered back to back games since Nov. 25-27, a span of 11 chances with no success.

This is the ESPN Friday night opener at 8:00 Eastern and Orlando is 10-1 UNDER on Friday nights this season. The StatFox Power Line shows Orlando by 11.

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