The Dallas Mavericks (14-13) host the Los Angeles Lakers (15-13) Wednesday at American Airlines Center. The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Lakers vs. Mavericks odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.
L.A. most recently steamrolled the Orlando Magic 106-94 at home Sunday for its second straight victory.
The Lakers are fifth in non-garbage time efficiency differential (according to CleaningTheGlass.com) with 3-2 straight-up (SU), 3-2 ATS and 1-4 O/U records over the last two weeks.
Dallas has won back-to-back games without All-Star G Luka Doncic versus the Charlotte Hornets Monday and at the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday. The Mavs are 4-4 SU, 4-4 ATS and 1-7 O/U with the eighth-best efficiency differential over the last two weeks, per CTG.
Lakers at Mavericks odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:20 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Lakers -130 (bet $130 to win $100) | Mavericks +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Against the spread (ATS): Lakers -1.5 (-115) | Mavericks +1.5 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 213.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Lakers at Mavericks key injuries
Lakers
- C LeBron James (abdomen) probable
- PF Anthony Davis (knee) questionable
- SF Talen Horton-Tucker (health and safety protocols) out
- C Dwight Howard (health and safety protocols) out
- SG Malik Monk (health and safety protocols) out
Mavericks
- PG Luka Doncic (ankle) out
Lakers at Mavericks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Lakers 107, Mavericks 100
Money line
BET the LAKERS (-130) because F LeBron James is finding his groove and I think we get a vintage LeBron performance in this national TV game.
LeBron is averaging 27.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game with a plus-18 net rating in December.
Not only has LeBron stepped up in December, but so has L.A.’s defense. The Lakers’ non-garbage time defensive rating is sixth this month.
The Mavs have struggled against good defenses this season: Dallas is 2-7 SU with the 24th-best efficiency differential (minus-8.4 points per 100 possessions) and the 20th-best ATS margin (minus-3.8) versus teams in the top-10 of defensive efficiency.
Furthermore, LeBron is 6-1 SU against the Mavericks since joining the Lakers and putting up his usual, Hall-of-Fame-caliber production.
I’m also gambling on F Anthony Davis suiting up this game because it’s a primetime game and the Lakers have several role players on the COVID list.
There’s a lot of issues with L.A.’s roster. However, in a primetime game against another playoff team, with LeBron, AD and G Russell Westbrook ready to play (or at least two of them), I gotta take the LAKERS (-130) to get the W.
Against the spread
PASS since the Lakers -1.5 (-115) isn’t much different than our L.A. money line wager.
Over/Under
Slight “LEAN” to the UNDER 213.5 (-110) for a small wager if at all since L.A. has gone Under the total in four straight games, Dallas has gone Under the total seven consecutive outings and both teams have a top-10 defensive rating in December.
On top of that, roughly two-thirds of the cash wagered is on the Over according to the Yahoo! Sports app.
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