Mavericks vs Lakers Picks and Prediction: Struggling Dallas Faces LA Before All-Star Break
Dallas Mavericks, sitting 12th in the Western Conference at 19-34, travel to face 5th-placed Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, February 12, tipping off at 10:00 PM ET. With the Mavericks navigating an eight-game losing streak without No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg (foot) and lacking their second-leading scorer Kyrie Irving while sporting a dismal 5-18 road record, this matchup pits a lottery-bound squad hemorrhaging games during their worst stretch since 2016 against a Lakers team that's won four straight head-to-head meetings by double digits and sits firmly in playoff position at 32-21 despite dropping their last two games, as LeBron James and Austin Reaves return fresh from Tuesday's rest game before the All-Star break while both franchises operate on opposite trajectories in the 2025/2026 campaign.
OC Staff - February 12, 2026, 9:30 PM EST
3 Minute ReadMavericks vs Lakers Picks and Prediction: Struggling Dallas Faces LA Before All-Star Break
Mavericks vs Lakers Recent Performance
Dallas sits 12th in the West at 19-34. Their last game was a 120-111 road loss at Phoenix, extending their skid to eight straight. The Mavericks have gone 0-8 over their last eight games and haven't won since beating Golden State at home on January 22. Naji Marshall dropped 31 in the loss to the Suns while Cooper Flagg added 27 before suffering a foot injury that will sideline him through the All-Star break.
Los Angeles sits 5th in the conference at 32-21. Their most recent outing ended in a 136-108 home blowout loss to San Antonio, dropping their second consecutive game. The Lakers had won three straight before the back-to-back losses and have gone 3-2 in their last five games. Victor Wembanyama torched LA for 40 points on Tuesday while the Lakers rested LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton.
Mavericks vs Lakers Head to Head
The last meeting between these Western Conference rivals was a January 24 thriller that saw Los Angeles rally from 15 down in the final seven minutes to escape with a 116-110 road win. Before that, the Lakers cruised 129-119 at home on November 28 behind Austin Reaves' 38 points and Luka Doncic's 35 points and 11 assists in his third meeting with his former team. The Lakers have dominated this matchup recently, winning four straight meetings and covering in all three games this season. Dallas hasn't beaten Los Angeles since 2024.
Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
- Time: 10:00 PM ET
- How to Watch: Prime Video, SportsNet LA
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Mavericks vs Lakers Odds
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Mavericks vs Lakers Team News
Dallas enters this game in crisis mode following their eighth straight loss. Cooper Flagg (foot) is out through the All-Star break after dropping 27 in Tuesday's loss to Phoenix. Kyrie Irving remains sidelined, leaving the Mavericks without their top two scorers. Naji Marshall is questionable with a foot injury of his own after leading Dallas with 31 points against the Suns. The Mavericks sit 5-18 on the road this season and rank 26th in offensive rating over their last eight games. P.J. Washington (14.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG) and Max Christie (13.1 PPG) will need to carry the offensive load against his former team.
Los Angeles faces their own injury concerns despite playing at home. Luka Doncic (hamstring) is officially out and won't get to face his former team for the third time this season. LeBron James is back after sitting Tuesday's blowout loss on the second night of a back-to-back. Deandre Ayton (knee) is questionable after being rested against San Antonio. Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart return to the lineup after both sat Tuesday. The Lakers rank 17-7 Over at home this season, the best home Over record in the league.
Prediction: Lakers 125, Mavericks 115
This matchup features a Mavericks squad on an eight-game losing streak facing a Lakers team looking to bounce back before the All-Star break. Dallas lost their best player when Flagg went down with a foot injury, and Irving's continued absence leaves them thin at every position. The Mavs shoot 47.0% from the field but rank 5-18 on the road and haven't beaten the Lakers since 2024. Los Angeles brings home-court advantage and gets their stars back after Tuesday's rest game, with James (22 PPG), Reaves (24.5 PPG), and potentially Ayton anchoring a Lakers squad that ranks 7th in offensive rating. Dallas is 7-16 ATS on the road while LA sits 13-11 ATS at home. Expect the Lakers to pull away late as the Mavericks' depleted roster runs out of gas.
Best Bet: Over 238.5 Points (-105) Click here to get the best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
The total has sailed Over in each of Dallas' last three games, and the Lakers post a league-best 17-7 Over mark at home. Neither defense inspires confidence—Dallas just allowed 120 to Phoenix and ranks 26th in offensive rating during their eight-game skid, while LA surrendered 136 to San Antonio in their last home game. The Lakers rank 27th in field goal percentage allowed and 23rd in three-point percentage allowed, meaning Dallas can score even without Flagg and Irving. Marshall (31 points vs Phoenix), Washington (14.0 PPG), and Christie (13.1 PPG shooting 42.5% from three) can exploit LA's defensive weaknesses. On the other side, James and Reaves return fresh after Tuesday's rest game, and both average over 22 PPG. The Lakers shoot 49.9% from the field and 35.0% from deep at home, while Dallas commits half a turnover fewer per game than LA. Both teams push pace when healthy, and with the All-Star break looming, these squads will look to end the first half on an offensive note. Points should come in bunches between two teams ranked in the bottom third of the league defensively.
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