Doncic has missed three straight games with a sprained ankle but the Mavs upgraded his status against the Lakers to questionable. Dallas has been getting without their superstar too, going 2-1 in his absence thanks to a pair of 40-point Kyrie Irving performances.

At 24-17 the Mavericks come into Wednesday in fifth in the Western Conference. For L.A., a win over Dallas gets them back to .500 as they hang out to the West’s final play-in spot. The Lakers last took the court Monday when they beat second-place Oklahoma City 112-105, but gaining any kind of momentum’s been a struggle for the Lakers since the start of December.

Tip-off at Crypto.com Arena gets going at 8:30 p.m. EST with the Lakers a -165 moneyline favourite at home and the total at 240.5 on the NBA odds.

Mavericks vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds

The Mavericks have the Lakers number, plain and simple. Dallas is 7-1 straight up in their last eight meetings with the Lakers. Dallas dominates even more when it comes to the spread, covering in 10 of their last 11 contests with L.A. Head-to-head the Mavs are 2-0 against the Lakers this season with wins by three and two points respectively.

The under has hit in 13 of L.A.’s last 17 games on home court, and in nine of their last 10 times hosting Dallas. Four of Dallas’ last six road games have gone under the total too, but if Kyrie Irving keeps up his current pace and/or Luka Doncic comes back this could make for a shootout.

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas got even Monday when they wrapped up a home-and-home against New Orleans with. 125-120 win. Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. proved why they’re the next best options in this Dallas offence after Doncic, combining for 83 points in the win. Irving’s led Dallas in scoring in six straight games while scoring a minimum of 33 points in the most recent five games.

Rookie centre Dereck Lively II returned to Dallas’ lineup Monday after missing five games. Doncic and Derrick Jones Jr. (calf) are both questionable to return against L.A. which should be a big relief for the duo of Irving and Hardaway Jr. as both players minutes have gone up way up this past week.

Los Angeles Lakers

Monday began a stretch of nearly two weeks straight at home for the Lakers, a.k.a. crunch time. Like most NBA teams, the Lakers are much better at home winning 14 of their 21 home games so far. And L.A. started off this crucial moment in their season with a bang, knocking off Oklahoma City Monday. 

The win wasn’t because of any extraordinary performances but instead a well-rounded night on offence mixed with good defending. Six Lakers reached double-digits as the team shot 52.4 per cent from the field. L.A. held their opponent under 110 points for just the second time this month, a night that saw Oklahoma City’s lowest point total in 19 games. The next, and arguably bigger test is a hot Dallas club potentially gaining one of the league’s top scorers.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Mavericks vs. Lakers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Mavericks Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 33.86
Assists	Luka Doncic 9.8
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 9.24
FG%	Daniel Gafford 78
Steals	Alex Fudge 1.5
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.93

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.66
Assists	LeBron James 8.3
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.64
FG%	Jaxson Hayes 72
Steals	LeBron James 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.34

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 28.86
Assists	Luka Doncic 8.09
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 9.45
FG%	Dereck Lively II 67.4
Steals	Luka Doncic 1.86
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.5

LAL

Points	Anthony Davis 27.8
Assists	LeBron James 8.8
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 15.6
FG%	Anthony Davis 63.4
Steals	LeBron James 2.4
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Lakers Team Leaders

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 33.86
Assists	Luka Doncic 9.8
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 9.24
FG%	Daniel Gafford 78
Steals	Alex Fudge 1.5
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.93

LAL

Points	LeBron James 25.66
Assists	LeBron James 8.3
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 12.64
FG%	Jaxson Hayes 72
Steals	LeBron James 1.25
Blocks	Anthony Davis 2.34

DAL

Points	Luka Doncic 28.86
Assists	Luka Doncic 8.09
Rebounds	Luka Doncic 9.45
FG%	Dereck Lively II 67.4
Steals	Luka Doncic 1.86
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.5

LAL

Points	Anthony Davis 27.8
Assists	LeBron James 8.8
Rebounds	Anthony Davis 15.6
FG%	Anthony Davis 63.4
Steals	LeBron James 2.4
Blocks	Anthony Davis 1.6

Injuries

Dallas

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 06 / 05 / 24

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Doub Tues Shoulder - 04 / 05 / 24

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 24 / 04 / 24

Daniel Gafford (PF)

Ques Fri Back - 24 / 04 / 24

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)

Prob Sun Illness - 20 / 04 / 24

Maxi Kleber (PF)

Prob Sun Back - 13 / 04 / 24

Dante Exum (PG)

Prob Sun Foot - 13 / 04 / 24

Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 13 / 04 / 24

Daniel Gafford (PF)

Prob Sun Elbow - 13 / 04 / 24

P.J. Washington (PF)

Prob Sun Ankle - 13 / 04 / 24

L.A. Lakers

Cam Reddish (SF)

Out Mon Ankle - 16 / 04 / 24

Cam Reddish (SF)

Prob Wed Personal - 01 / 04 / 24

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Prob Wed Knee - 01 / 04 / 24

Jaxson Hayes (C)

Prob Tues Calf - 31 / 03 / 24

D'Angelo Russell (PG)

Prob Tues Illness - 24 / 03 / 24

Taurean Prince (SF)

Prob Sun Personal - 22 / 03 / 24

Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG)

Out indefinitely Back - 21 / 03 / 24

Cam Reddish (SF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 10 / 03 / 24

Cam Reddish (SF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 07 / 03 / 24

Cam Reddish (SF)

Ques Fri Ankle - 05 / 03 / 24

Injuries

Dallas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 24	9-6	7-9	+ -
Hardaway Jr. is dealing with a right ankle sprain, but he is likely to suit up against the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference second round.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Doub Tues	Shoulder - 04 / 05 / 24	10-6	8-9	+ -
Kleber is hampered by a dislocation of the AC joint in his right shoulder, and is not expected to play in Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 24 / 04 / 24	12-8	9-12	+ -
Hardaway Jr. is dealing with a right ankle sprain, and he is likely to suit up against the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference second round.
Daniel Gafford (PF)	Ques Fri	Back - 24 / 04 / 24	12-8	9-12	+ -
Gafford is hindered by lower-back soreness, and it is up in the air if he will line up for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Clippers.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG)	Prob Sun	Illness - 20 / 04 / 24	12-9	9-13	+ -
Hardaway is ailing from an illness, but it is not expected to impact his status for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Clippers.
Maxi Kleber (PF)	Prob Sun	Back - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Kleber is dealing with back spasms, but it is forecasted that he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Clippers.
Dante Exum (PG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Exum is laid up with a right foot sprain, but it is predicted that he will participate in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Clippers.
Derrick Jones Jr. (SF)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Jones is hampered by a left shoulder sprain, but it is projected that he will line up against the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Daniel Gafford (PF)	Prob Sun	Elbow - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Gafford is tending to right elbow soreness, but it is expected that he will take on the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
P.J. Washington (PF)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 13 / 04 / 24	13-10	9-15	+ -
Washington is nursing a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will face the Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Cam Reddish (SF)	Out Mon	Ankle - 16 / 04 / 24	3-2	2-3	+ -
Reddish is hampered by a right ankle sprain, and he will not suit up against the Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Cam Reddish (SF)	Prob Wed	Personal - 01 / 04 / 24	6-6	7-5	+ -
Reddish was absent from the last match while tending to a personal matter, but it is anticipated that he will dress for Wednesday's showdown versus the Wizards.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 01 / 04 / 24	6-6	7-5	+ -
Vincent missed the previous contest with a left knee injury, but it is not expected to impact his status against the Wizards on Wednesday.
Jaxson Hayes (C)	Prob Tues	Calf - 31 / 03 / 24	6-7	7-6	+ -
Hayes missed the last game with a left calf contusion, but it is anticipated that he will be active for Tuesday's clash with the Raptors.
D'Angelo Russell (PG)	Prob Tues	Illness - 24 / 03 / 24	9-8	10-7	+ -
Russell missed the last game ailing from an illness, but it is anticipated that he will take the court against the Bucks on Tuesday.
Taurean Prince (SF)	Prob Sun	Personal - 22 / 03 / 24	10-8	11-7	+ -
Prince missed the last contest due to a personal matter, but it is expected that he will suit up against the Pacers on Sunday.
Jalen Hood-Schifino (PG)	Out indefinitely	Back - 21 / 03 / 24	10-8	11-7	+ -
Hood-Schifino is idle after undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure, and the severity of the ailment is unknown.
Cam Reddish (SF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 10 / 03 / 24	12-10	14-8	+ -
Reddish has been absent the previous four games due to a right ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will take the floor against the 76ers on Friday.
Cam Reddish (SF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 07 / 03 / 24	13-11	15-9	+ -
Reddish is expected to lace up for Friday's matchup with the Bucks despite a right ankle sprain.
Cam Reddish (SF)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 05 / 03 / 24	13-12	16-9	+ -
Reddish missed the last game nursing a right ankle sprain, and it is yet to be determined if he will take the court Friday against the Bucks.