NBA on TNT picks: Mavs vs. Knicks and Nets vs. Nuggets

The NBA is back on TNT, with an intriguing double-header Thursday that will feature Kristaps Porzingis' New York homecoming and an inter-conference clash between the Nets and Nuggets in the Mile High City. We have odds and picks for both matchups below.

Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks, 8 p.m. ET

The boo birds will be out in full force Thursday evening, as Kristaps Porzingis will make his first appearance at Madison Square Garden since he forced his way out of town in January. His sudden departure left a sour taste in the mouths of most fans, and they're sure to voice their displeasure when he takes the court as a member of the Mavs.

The hecklers should have plenty of ammo, as the towering Latvian has largely underwhelmed in his first season in Dallas. Porzingis is averaging 18.3 points per game, but is hitting just 40% of his field goals and 42% of his two-point field goals. Both numbers represent career lows and have led to "The Unicorn" being benched late in games. It's possible Porzingis is still shaking off the rust after he missed all of 2018-19 to rehab an ACL injury, but Dallas needs him to be far more efficient if it hopes to make a playoff push.

Porzingis' struggles have led to more opportunities for Luka Doncic, and the second-year guard has embraced his role as the team's clear-cut leader. Doncic is averaging 28.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game, and has already recorded four triple-doubles in his first 10 outings this year. His offensive mastery brings to mind Magic Johnson and LeBron James, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him finish the season with his first of many MVP awards.

Doncic and the Mavs will face a team in serious disarray. The Knicks have lost nine of their first 11 games and are on pace to finish with one of the worst records in NBA history. Their miserable record is hardly surprising, given the fact that the team is evenly split between one-dimensional power forwards and erratic young point guards. RJ Barrett has been one of the franchise's few bright lights, but he is shooting just 41% from the floor and has seen his scoring average plummet since the first two weeks of the season.

The Knicks managed to overcome their shortcomings the first time they met the Mavs earlier this season and came away with a 105-102 win, but don't expect the same result Thursday. A fired-up Porzingis will make all the difference, as Dallas will extend New York's misery and trounce the Knicks at home.

Pick: Mavericks moneyline

Brooklyn Nets at Denver Nuggets, 10:30 p.m. ET

Few teams have been harder to peg this season than the Nuggets, whose brilliant performances against playoff-bound teams, like the Trail Blazers and Heat, have been negated by head-scratching losses to injury-riddled clubs like the Pelicans and the Hawks. Is it possible last season's success has gone to their head? Michael Malone certainly thinks so. The fiery coach ripped into his team after its loss to New Orleans, saying, "We're a great talk team. We can talk all we want before the season starts—all the things we want to accomplish, be a championship-contending team. It's all bulls--t. Show me."

Denver's wavering commitment makes it risky to back, but there's no doubt the Nuggets are a better team on paper. Nikola Jokic is still the league's best all-around big, and Jamal Murray and Gary Harris form one of the most electric backcourts in the NBA. Will Barton has also upped his game this season and has boosted his scoring average by 4.1 points to 15.6 per game.

The Nets aren't quite so hard to figure out. Brooklyn ranks third in points per game, but has struggled to stop anyone on defense. Kenny Atkinson's squad has the fifth-worst defensive rating in the league and has already given up 120 points or more four times this season. Much of the damage has been done in the paint, where opposing teams are scoring 50.2 points per game.

Adding injury to insult leading scorer Kyrie Irving has a right shoulder impingement and is listed as questionable for Thursday night. If Irving is available, the Nets should be able to cover the generous 8.5-point spread. If he is in street clothes, this game will be over before the first half. Watch the injury report closely and hold off on wagering on this game until his status is clear.

Pick: Nuggets moneyline

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