Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks Prediction, NBA Odds
The Lakers are coming off a two-game mini-series in Oklahoma City that concluded last night, with L.A. splitting the two contests. The Lakers came out of yesterday’s tilt with a 136-120 loss. Luka Doncic played 31 minutes yesterday prior to an ejection for two technical fouls, so he and the other Lakers should be ready to go in Dallas as they aim to hold onto third in the Western Conference.
Barring a collapse and some bad luck, the Mavericks will finish the season in one of the West’s play-in spots. Dallas is coming off a two-game mini-series in L.A. against the Clippers, with the Mavs suffering double-digit defeats in each. Wednesday would also be Anthony Davis’ first meeting against the Lakers since being flipped for Luka back at the beginning of February.
Tip-off at American Airlines Center goes at 7:30 p.m. EDT with the Lakers a -160 moneyline favourite and the total set at 226.5 on the NBA odds.
Lakers vs. Mavericks NBA Betting Odds
Dallas has dominated the Lakers as of late, winning eight of their last 11 matchups. L.A. is just 2-12 against the spread in their last 14 games going up against the Mavericks which includes a 7-1 ATS run in Dallas’ eight last times hosting the Lakers. This season these teams have split their two meetings — a 118-97 Dallas victory on January 7 and a 107-99 Lakers win on February 25.
The over has been the right play with both these clubs lately. In 12 of Dallas’ last 15 outings overall, the over has connected. Seven of the last nine Lakers’ road games have gone over. L.A.’s reached at least 115 points in four straight games, and at least 120 in their last three. Yesterday saw the Lakers score 43 points in the opening quarter, but come out of that quarter tied 43-43.
Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic’s ejection acted as a turning point in yesterday’s 136-120 defeat at Oklahoma City. Doncic received his second technical foul of the game in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers were outscored 29-12 from that point on. The glass half-full perspective is Doncic hit the showers early in a road back-to-back for L.A. — and it’s a massive game on Wednesday for Doncic at least, with him returning to Dallas for the first time as an opponent of the Mavs.
Bronny James (illness) missed yesterday’s game but if recovered he could see some action on Wednesday given L.A.’s tight turnaround. His father, LeBron, dropped a team-high 28 points last night. LeBron, Doncic, and Austin Reaves are the three current Lakers above 20 points per game this season and all three are consistently hitting that benchmark in recent outings.
Dallas Mavericks
Anthony Davis is toughing out an adductor injury and his probable status for Wednesday indicates he’s not missing a chance to get some revenge against his old squad. Davis is averaging just over 20 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in seven appearances with Dallas, which are both significant drop-offs from his numbers with the Lakers before getting traded. Davis has been playing in a short-handed Mavericks lineup though Dante Exum (hand) and Caleb Martin (hip) are expected to return on Wednesday.
On top of Davis and the likes of P.J. Washington and Klay Thompson, Dallas will need some depth scoring to overpower the Lakers. Kai Jones went eight for eight from the field off the bench in the Mavs last game, while Naji Marshall can break out scoring. Marshall dropped a career-high 38 points last month.
LAL
DAL