The Dallas Mavericks have turned things around after a slow start to the season. Their double-overtime win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday should help them build some momentum — but the latest Christian Wood injury update is a cause for concern. Wood hurt his ankle in the second overtime period against the Lakers and is questionable with a right ankle sprain. With the Mavericks already pressed for depth, bettors must seriously consider whether Christian Wood is playing tonight before placing their wagers.
The Mavericks will tip off against the Portland Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET. Unfortunately, that means bettors and NBA DFS players likely won’t get an update on Wood until late tonight. Those looking for an edge should heed this advice or check out the OddsShopper tools for sharp NBA bets. Bettors can also try out a one-week free trial of NBA Bet Pro to access cutting-edge betting projections that will update once the Mavericks announce Wood’s official status.
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Christian Wood Injury Update – NBA Betting Impact
Wood recorded an impressive stat line against the Lakers on Thursday. He racked up 24 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in 47 minutes of action. However, he appeared to hurt his ankle with just over 30 seconds left, and head coach Jason Kidd swapped in Dwight Powell with the Mavericks up by three and just over 30 seconds remaining.
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The Mavericks don’t have a layup matchup on Saturday. They’ll face a plucky Trail Blazers squad that started the year off hot. Although the Mavericks have gone a solid 2-0 against the Blazers so far, the teams are yet to meet in Portland. Dallas has gone a miserable 7-14 against the spread on the road. They’ll need all hands on deck to keep their recent streak of strong play alive.
If Christian Wood can’t play, he would join Dorian Finney-Smith, Josh Green and Maxi Kleber as players unavailable for Saturday’s action. The Mavericks would likely start Dwight Powell at center and give JaVale McGee some minutes off the bench. Both options lack Wood’s versatility, as neither can shoot effectively from distance.
Mavericks-Trail Blazers NBA Betting & DFS Advice
The significance of Wood’s ankle injury remains unclear. The fact Jason Kidd pulled him during crunch time — albeit quite late — means it was serious enough to affect his on-court performance. Even if Wood plays, Powell should see enough extra run to pay off his bargain-bin NBA DFS salary of $3,100 at DraftKings. Luka Doncic ($12,800) would somehow draw even more usage if Wood were to sit.
The Mavericks are 1.5-point underdogs at DraftKings and 2-point underdogs at FanDuel. Portland opened as a 1-point favorite but has drawn 56% of the cash on only 33% of the tickets, according to Pregame. The opening number and sharp action both suggest Wood should sit tonight.
Bettors who think Wood sits won’t find much value on the betting markets, but heading to DraftKings to back the Trail Blazers as 1.5-point favorites is a decent play. Getting the -1.5 before definitive news about Wood’s status comes out would likely score bettors a small amount of closing-line value (CLV). Those new to DraftKings can earn $200 in bonus bets with a $5 wager. Bettors in Ohio can score the same deal but via this link instead!
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