Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks: What More Do We Need To See? LA Is Cooked
Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks: What More Do We Need To See? LA Is Cooked
- When: 10:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: TNT
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Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Line Movement
Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction
Click here for Lakers vs Mavericks Odds
Before the season started, there were a lot of people out there who questioned whether the Lakers were wise to navigate the offseason in the way they did. After trading all of their quality depth for Russell Westbrook, they let key reserve Alex Caruso walk simply because of luxury tax concerns, signed Kendrick Nunn to their lone exception, and proceeded to fill out their roster with minimum salary guys.
But for as poor a grade as they got from even the harshest critics, no one could have possibly envisioned what we're seeing now. Losers of 14 of their last 20 games, the Lakers have the ninth-worst net rating in the league since January 9th. It's even worse considering LeBron James has been healthy for 15 of those 20 games and is putting forth nightly stat lines that don't signify much if any, drop-off. He and Giannis are the only players in the NBA averaging at least 29 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, and it hasn't mattered one bit. The Lakers are in a free fall.
In come the Dallas Mavericks, who over that same 20-game span have the fourth-best net rating in the league. Going tit for tat with LeBron is Luka Doncic, who is putting up 27, 9 & 9 a night and has the Mavs riding seven wins in their last nine games. Their only losses in that time have been a five-point loss to a full healthy Jazz team in Utah and a two-point loss to the Clippers after they had played them just two nights earlier - never an easy sweep.
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This one isn't complicated. The Lakers continue to get the benefit of lines that don't match their output because they're the Lakers, and as a result, have the worst margin against the spread in the NBA at minus-3.2. Dallas, meanwhile, is tied for the fifth-best such mark at plus 1.8.
Making matters even direr, LeBron James is day-to-day, so there's at least a chance he doesn't suit up for this one. It's unlikely, but the mere possibility is reason enough to give the points here. Do so and don't look back.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Pick
- PICK: Mavericks -5 (-110) (Bet $100 to Win $110)