Dallas Mavericks vs Philadelphia-76ers Picks and Predictions March 16th 2025

Sixers, Mavericks Aim to Break Out of Slumps

Philadelphia Struggles Amid Injuries

The injury-ravaged Philadelphia 76ers visit the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon, with both teams desperate to break their recent losing streaks. Philadelphia has lost 17 of its past 20 games, falling to 12th in the Eastern Conference, largely due to critical injuries.

Former NBA MVP Joel Embiid (knee), season-leading scorer Tyrese Maxey (back), and former All-NBA star Paul George (groin) have all been sidelined, significantly weakening the Sixers’ lineup. Despite this, guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. has capitalized on increased minutes, scoring 17, 20, and 24 points in his last three games. Rookie center Adem Bona has also stepped up, scoring in double figures for four straight games, including 16 points on Friday.

Sixers coach Nick Nurse praised Dowtin’s emergence amidst adversity:

“He got in a little bit of a numbers game at the start of the season… Now he knows he’s got to play a lot.”

Mavericks Look to Recover From Blowout Loss

Dallas enters Sunday’s contest after a 133-96 defeat to Houston, marking their seventh loss in eight games. The Mavericks are barely hanging onto the 10th spot in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games ahead of the Phoenix Suns.

Injuries have heavily impacted Dallas as well, particularly in the frontcourt. Key big men Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and recently acquired Anthony Davis remain out with uncertain return dates. Houston exploited this vulnerability on Friday, scoring 68 points in the paint.

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Opportunities Arise for Mavericks’ Reserves

With Dante Exum suffering a broken hand Friday, two-way player Brandon Williams stepped up impressively, scoring 25 points with four rebounds. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd was pleased with Williams’ performance:

“He was great, attacking and playmaking. He used his speed positively, getting in the paint and finishing.”

Forward Kessler Edwards also contributed with 12 points and six rebounds, helping Dallas mitigate their depleted frontcourt.

Keys to Victory

Philadelphia must rely on emerging players like Dowtin and Bona to continue their recent strong performances, while Dallas needs production from reserves and an improved defensive showing.

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