It’s already the final meeting of the 2018-19 season on Monday between the Lakers and Mavericks as they square off in Dallas.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Advantage Dallas here because the Lakers played Sunday at Minnesota. L.A. goes for the season sweep of the Mavericks, winning the first two meetings in the City of Angels.

On Halloween, the Lakers were 114-113 winners. LeBron James had 29 points, including the game-winning free throw with 2.1 seconds left. That the Mavs tied it was a minor miracle considering they trailed 111-98 with 3:42 left. Stellar rookie Luka Doncic knotted it up at 113-113 on a jumper with just over seven seconds remaining. He had 14 points and seven assists.

On Nov. 30, the Lakers beat the Mavericks 114-103 behind 28 points from James. That was also the second of a back-to-back for L.A. Harrison Barnes led Dallas with 29 points.

Because Monday is the last meeting this season between the teams, it’s the last chance the lock first-ballot Hall of Famers and all-time greats in James and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki could have faced off. LeBron ranks fifth all-time in points, and Dirk seventh and is considered the greatest foreign-born player ever. Alas, James will sit again with his groin injury, and Nowitzki is nothing more than a fringe player in his final season and gets some games off. Nowitzki and James met in the 2011 NBA Finals, with Dirk’s Mavericks upsetting James’ Miami Heat in six games.

The home team is 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past five meetings.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers dropped to 1-5 without LeBron this season as he again sat Sunday and the Lakers were spanked 108-86 in Minnesota (which then fired its head coach, oddly). The Wolves outscored the Lakers 35-19 in the first quarter and never looked back. It was L.A.’s largest loss since Nov. 27. They also were without the injured Rajon Rondo (finger) and Kyle Kuzma (back). To try and shake things up, Coach Luke Walton started Ivica Zubac over Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Don’t expect to see that again since the Lakers were outscored 15-1 to start the game and Zubac was pulled. McGee was also quiet in 16 minutes. Lonzo Ball had as many points as you did (zero) in 23 minutes.

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas completed a four-game road trip at 1-3 with Saturday’s 106-100 loss in Philadelphia. Nowitzki (rest), Devin Harris (back) and J.J. Barea (ankle) all sat out. Rookie Jalen Brunson got more playing time with those latter two sitting and was two assists shy of his first triple-double. Wesley Matthews led the team with just 18 points. Doncic had an off game in shooting 4-for-16 overall and 1-for-8 from deep to finish with 14 points. He added eight rebounds and four assists. Dennis Smith Jr. had just two points. DeAndre Jordan suffered a left hand contusion but played through it. Might have bothered him as Jordan had eight points and eight rebounds, ending his franchise-record streak of 13 straight games with double-digit boards. The Mavs are 6-2 ATS in their past eight Monday games.

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Lance Stephenson (SG)

Ques Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 19

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Ques Tues Neck - 04 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Ques Tues Flu - 26 / 03 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 19

Mike Muscala (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

out for season Knee - 21 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 03 / 19

Dallas

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Out Wed Knee - 10 / 04 / 19

Courtney Lee (SG)

Ques Wed Hip - 08 / 04 / 19

Kostas Antetokounmpo (PF)

Ques Wed Knee - 07 / 04 / 19

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Prob Tues Knee - 07 / 04 / 19

Jalen Brunson (PG)

Ques Sun Rest - 05 / 04 / 19

Dwight Powell (PF)

Ques Sun Rest - 05 / 04 / 19

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)

Prob Fri Mouth - 02 / 04 / 19

Salah Mejri (C)

Ques Thurs Illness - 23 / 03 / 19

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

out for season Shin - 21 / 03 / 19

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Prob Thurs Wrist - 19 / 03 / 19

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Lance Stephenson (SG)	Ques Tues	Foot - 09 / 04 / 19	1-0	1-0	+ -
Stephenson is battling a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Rondo will not participate in Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers as he is to be rested.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Chandler will not play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a day of rest.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Ques Tues	Neck - 04 / 04 / 19	2-2	2-2	+ -
Bullock has missed the previous three games with neck stiffness and has an unclear status Tuesday against the Trail Blazers.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Tues	Foot - 01 / 04 / 19	3-2	3-2	+ -
Bullock is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Tuesday despite a plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Ques Tues	Flu - 26 / 03 / 19	7-2	4-5	+ -
Chandler has been idle due to flu-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will return against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 24 / 03 / 19	7-3	4-6	+ -
Bullock has been held out of the previous four games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.
Mike Muscala (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Muscala has missed the past four games due to tibialis posterior tendonitis in his right ankle but is likely to return Friday against the Hornets.
Josh Hart (SG)	out for season	Knee - 21 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Hart is recovering from a procedure on his right patellar tendon. He will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Josh Hart (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 18 / 03 / 19	7-5	5-7	+ -
Hart is battling right knee tendinitis but is projected to face the Bucks on Tuesday.

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Out Wed	Knee - 10 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Kleber is experiencing left knee soreness and will not face the Spurs on Wednesday.
Courtney Lee (SG)	Ques Wed	Hip - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Lee missed the previous game with a left hip contusion and it is undetermined if he will play against the Spurs on Wednesday.
Kostas Antetokounmpo (PF)	Ques Wed	Knee - 07 / 04 / 19	2-1	3-0	+ -
Antetokounmpo has been held out of the past two games with soreness in his left knee and it is undetermined if he will be in Wednesday's lineup versus the Spurs.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Prob Tues	Knee - 07 / 04 / 19	2-1	3-0	+ -
Kleber sat out the previous game due to a right knee contusion but is likely to suit up against the Suns on Tuesday.
Jalen Brunson (PG)	Ques Sun	Rest - 05 / 04 / 19	2-2	3-1	+ -
Brunson sat out the previous game for load management reasons and it is unclear if he will take the court against the Grizzlies on Sunday.
Dwight Powell (PF)	Ques Sun	Rest - 05 / 04 / 19	2-2	3-1	+ -
Powell sat out the previous game for load management, leaving his status uncertain for Sunday's tilt against the Grizzlies.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF)	Prob Fri	Mouth - 02 / 04 / 19	4-2	4-2	+ -
Finney-Smith missed the previous game due to a mouth laceration but is likely to play Friday against the Grizzlies.
Salah Mejri (C)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 23 / 03 / 19	5-4	5-5	+ -
Mejri has sat out the last two games due to illness and it is uncertain if he will be available for Thursday's matchup against the Heat.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	out for season	Shin - 21 / 03 / 19	6-5	7-5	+ -
Hardaway Jr. has a left tibia stress reaction and has been shut down for the remainder of the season.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Prob Thurs	Wrist - 19 / 03 / 19	6-5	8-5	+ -
Kleber sat out the previous game with a sprained left wrist but is likely to play against the Kings on Thursday.

Lakers vs. Mavericks Prediction