Game one of the doubleheader on TNT will feature the Dallas Mavericks traveling to New York, New York to face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 PM ET on Thursday.

The Dallas Mavericks enter this game with a record of 28-23 which puts them in 8^th place in the Western Conference and are on a two-game winning streak following Tuesday’s 119-107 win on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. Luka Doncic leads the NBA in scoring with an average of 34.5 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds, assists, and steals with an average of 8.8 rebounds, 9.4 assists, and 1.42 steals per game and has been one of the main reasons the Mavericks are the 10^th highest-scoring team in the NBA with an average of 118.22 points per game. However, the Mavericks have been a below-average team defensively as they are allowing an average of 118.5 points per game. The Dallas Mavericks will look to extend their winning streak to three games when they travel to face the New York Knicks.

New York has the 4^th best record in the Eastern Conference at 33-18 while having won 10 of their previous 11 games including Tuesday’s 123-113 win at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. The success of the Knicks can be attributed to their defensive play as they are allowing the 2^nd fewest points per game with an average of 109.28 points allowed per game, however, New York has been a below-average team offensively as they are averaging 115.04 points per game which is below the league average of 115.58 points per game. Julius Randle has been one of the better players on the team as he leads the team in rebounds and is 2^nd on the team in scoring with an average of 24 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. The New York Knicks will look to win their 11^th game in their last 12 matchups when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

BookMaker has the Dallas Mavericks listed as 2.5-point favorites on the road against the New York Knicks on Thursday. The teams have split the last ten meetings while Dallas has won the previous three matchups. The Knicks have covered the spread in six of the last ten while the Mavericks have covered the spread in two of the previous three games in the series. The Dallas Mavericks are 26-25 ATS overall, 15-9 ATS on the road, and 17-11 ATS as a favorite this season while the New York Knicks are 29-20-2 ATS overall, 15-9-1 ATS at home, and 8-9-2 ATS as an underdog on the year.

New York enters this game with the better record, however, Dallas has won the previous three games in the series. The Knicks have covered the spread in six of the previous ten meetings while also having been the better team at covering the spread this season with a record of 29-20-2 ATS overall while the Mavericks are 26-25 ATS overall. As a result, I am buying the .5 point and taking the points with the New York Knicks when they host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.