Mavericks vs. Lakers: NBA odds, Picks and Predictions
Mavericks vs. Lakers Odds
| Mavericks Odds | -3 |
| Lakers Odds | +3 |
| Over/Under | 236 |
| Date | Thu, Jan. 12 |
| Time | 10:00 p.m. |
| TV | TNT |
The nightcap of Thursday’s NBA double-header on TNT will feature Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in Hollywood. Entering play, Dallas is 23-19, occupying the 5-seed in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is a half-game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for the final play-in position in the conference. In this matchup, oddsmakers are expecting a tightly-contested affair, pricing the Mavericks as 3-point road favorites on the spread.
Dallas Mavericks
Dismal away from Dallas
During the first half of the NBA campaign, Dallas has been one of the league’s best home teams, winning 16-of-22 contests at the American Airlines Center. On the road, the Mavericks are 7-13, having been outscored by 4.2 points per 100 possessions.
On the road, Dallas is allowing 116.9 points per 100 possessions, which ranks 25th out of 30 teams this season. This unit has struggled mightily to defend the perimeter, ranking 26th in opponent three-point percentage away from home.
Battle on the glass
Perhaps the largest concern for Dallas in this matchup is on the boards, considering that they rank 30th in rebound percentage on the road. Though the Lakers have struggled overall this year, they have been near league average in the rebounding department, which gives them a major advantage in this area of the game on Thursday.
Los Angeles Lakers
Davis OUT
Los Angeles will be without Anthony Davis once again this evening, marking their 14th consecutive contest with him in street clothes. In his absence, the Lakers are 7-6 overall, ranking 20th in Net Rating in that span.
Per Cleaning the Glass, the Lakers rank in the 47th percentile in offensive efficiency and the 17th percentile in defensive efficiency this year with Davis off of the floor, compared to the 51st percentile in offensive efficiency and the 74th percentile in defensive efficiency with him in uniform.
Who will step up for Los Angeles
Per CourtIQ, LeBron James sees a 2.3% increase in usage with Davis off of the court this season. When his co-star is on the sidelines, James is averaging 32.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. James enters action tonight having scored at least 25 points in 13 consecutive games, including 10 games of 30-plus points in that span. Expect him to be aggressive offensively tonight against a team that he torched for 38 points on Christmas Day.
Mavericks vs. Lakers – Picks & Predictions
When these two teams met on December 25, 239 points were scored in a game that featured only 95 possessions. Since that point, Los Angeles ranks 3rd in the NBA in pace, averaging 103.5 possessions per game. During that same time period, Dallas is averaging 97.4 possessions in their eight games.
The quicker pace should favor the home team in this spot, with role players being far more adept at performing in the comfort of their own building compared to hostile and unfamiliar environments on the road. Factoring in Dallas’ road struggles and Los Angeles’ above .500 record at home – this is a game that is likely to come down to the wire. Take the home underdogs on the spread in this spot.
PICK: Lakers +3.5 (-115, MGM)
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