LeBron James is expected to return to the Lakers lineup Thursday when they host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. LeBron sat out Monday’s 122-109 loss at Denver with ankle soreness, but is set to rejoin the starting lineup for this heavyweight Western tilt. Doncic comes in as the NBA’s top scorer, averaging 34.2 points per game. James is at 29.1 points per game, ranking eighth in the NBA.

Thursday’s matchup is important for both clubs. The 23-19 Mavericks have dropped two straight and now rank fifth in the conference, while the 19-22 Lakers remain right outside the final play-in spot.

Tip-off at Crypto.com Arena starts at 10 p.m. EST, with Dallas a three-point road favourite and the total at 229.5 on the NBA odds.

Mavericks vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds

Dallas comes into this contest having covered in six straight versus the Lakers and outright winning five of those six. Thursday’s the second of four meetings between Dallas and L.A. this season, with the Mavericks winning the first one 124-115 on Christmas Day. James scored 38 in the loss, and Doncic 32 in a winning effort. Six of the last seven Mavericks–Lakers games played in L.A. have finished under the total.

The Mavs have had a tough go on the road all season, winning only seven of their 20 games so far. Dallas is 6-14 ATS in those matches and have failed to cover in five straight road outings. The Lakers are 4-1 in their last five outings at home.

Dallas Mavericks

A 43-point outing from Doncic Tuesday still resulted in a 12-point loss against the L.A. Clippers, as Dallas now awaits the other L.A. squad. The Mavericks shot 31 per cent from three in the loss, with Doncic going three for nine from deep. Doncic came three assists shy of his 10th triple-double this season, which ranks second in the NBA.

The Mavs managed 13 bench points in the defeat, with their bench shooting five for 21 from the field. Dallas has the eighth-fewest bench points this season, which is exactly what they could use to support Doncic and become a true contender in the West.

Los Angeles Lakers

Without James (and Anthony Davis) on Monday, it was Russell Westbrook of all players stepping up offensively for L.A. Westbrook scored a team-high 25 in the loss and has now scored at least 18 points in four straight games while shooting around 50 per cent both from the field and three-point range. Westbrook ranks third on the Lakers with 15.1 points per game.

Despite the NBA’s leading scorer coming into town, Dallas is 26th in the NBA in offence. But L.A. gives up fewer points per game than only three other NBA teams, so Doncic and the Mavericks should still pose a strong challenge for a struggling Lakers defence.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Mavericks vs. Lakers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Mavericks Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 32.39
Assists	Luka Doncic 8.02
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 8.62
FG%	Chris Silva 100
Steals	Luka Doncic 1.36
Blocks	Christian Wood 1.07

LAL

Points	LeBron James 28.91
Assists	LeBron James 6.82
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.54
FG%	Davon Reed 75
Steals	Jarred Vanderbilt 1.15
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.04

DAL

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

LAL

Points	LeBron James 24.5
Assists	LeBron James 6.5
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 14.06
FG%	Rui Hachimura 55.7
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.38
Blocks	Anthony Davis 3.13

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 32.39
Assists	Luka Doncic 8.02
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 8.62
FG%	Chris Silva 100
Steals	Luka Doncic 1.36
Blocks	Christian Wood 1.07

LAL

Points	LeBron James 28.91
Assists	LeBron James 6.82
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.54
FG%	Davon Reed 75
Steals	Jarred Vanderbilt 1.15
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.04

DAL

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

LAL

Points	LeBron James 24.5
Assists	LeBron James 6.5
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 14.06
FG%	Rui Hachimura 55.7
Steals	Anthony Davis 1.38
Blocks	Anthony Davis 3.13

Injuries

Dallas

Josh Green (SG)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 23

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Out Sun Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 23

Josh Green (SG)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

Out Sun Ankle - 07 / 04 / 23

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

JaVale McGee (C)

Prob Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Christian Wood (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Frank Ntilikina (PG)

Ques Sun Knee - 28 / 03 / 23

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Prob Wed Hamstring - 27 / 03 / 23

L.A. Lakers

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Mon Foot - 21 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sat Foot - 19 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Thurs Foot - 17 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 15 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Fri Foot - 11 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Wed Foot - 09 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Mon Foot - 07 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Sat Foot - 05 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Thurs Foot - 03 / 05 / 23

Anthony Davis (PF)

Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 05 / 23

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Josh Green (SG)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	0-1	1-0	+ -
Green will not be in the lineup for Sunday's battle with the Spurs as he is taking a rest day.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Out Sun	Rest - 08 / 04 / 23	0-2	1-1	+ -
Bullock is taking a day of rest and will not face the Spurs on Sunday.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Out Sun	Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 23	0-2	1-1	+ -
Kleber is nursing a right hamstring ailment, and he will not be in the lineup Sunday against the Spurs.
Josh Green (SG)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	0-2	1-1	+ -
Green will not be active for Friday's clash against the Bulls as he will be handed a day to rest.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	Out Sun	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 23	0-2	1-1	+ -
Hardaway Jr. sat out the last game with left ankle soreness, and he will not participate in Sunday's clash against the Spurs.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	0-2	1-1	+ -
Kleber will not take the court against the Bulls on Friday due to a day of rest.
JaVale McGee (C)	Prob Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	0-2	1-1	+ -
McGee is managing a right ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Friday's battle with the Bulls.
Christian Wood (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	0-2	1-1	+ -
Wood will not take on the Bulls on Friday as he will receive a day of rest.
Frank Ntilikina (PG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 28 / 03 / 23	2-4	3-3	+ -
Ntilikina has missed the last two games with a right knee sprain, and it has yet to be established if he will face the Hawks on Sunday.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Prob Wed	Hamstring - 27 / 03 / 23	2-5	3-4	+ -
Kleber was held out of the last contest due to a right hamstring injury, but it is expected that he will suit up for Wednesday's battle with the 76ers.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Mon	Foot - 21 / 05 / 23	1-1	1-1	+ -
Davis is nursing a right foot stress injury, but it is not expected to impact his status versus the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 19 / 05 / 23	2-1	2-1	+ -
Davis is tending to a right foot stress injury, but he is predicted to be available for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Thurs	Foot - 17 / 05 / 23	3-1	3-1	+ -
Davis is managing a right foot stress injury, but he is expected to dress for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 15 / 05 / 23	3-1	3-1	+ -
Davis is managing a right foot stress injury, but he is expected to dress for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals versus the Nuggets.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Fri	Foot - 11 / 05 / 23	4-2	4-2	+ -
Davis is tending to a right foot stress injury, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Wed	Foot - 09 / 05 / 23	5-2	4-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but it is projected that that he will dress for Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Mon	Foot - 07 / 05 / 23	5-3	5-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but it is projected that that he will dress for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Sat	Foot - 05 / 05 / 23	6-3	6-3	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but he is forecasted to be available versus the Warriors in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Thurs	Foot - 03 / 05 / 23	7-3	6-4	+ -
Davis is dealing with a right foot stress injury, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Warriors.
Anthony Davis (PF)	Prob Tues	Foot - 01 / 05 / 23	7-3	6-4	+ -
Davis is nursing a right foot stress injury, but it is not expected to impact his availability for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors.