The mystery that is the Los Angeles Lakers continues with LeBron James, in Year 19, putting up MVP-caliber numbers. A team that is 18-15 at the Crypto.com Arena has struggled mightily, going 27-33 on the season. Another challenge awaits as the Dallas Mavericks visit Hollywood for a 10 p.m. ET tip-off on Tuesday.
Dallas (36-25) finds itself in the thick of the NBA playoff seeding and are tied for fifth with Denver in the Western Conference chase. The two teams are 3.5 games ahead of Minnesota, the seven seed which would host a play-in game. Luka Doncic is coming off a 34-point, 11-rebound double-double on his birthday in Sunday’s 107-101 win over the Golden State Warriors.
The line opened at Dallas -4.5 with an over/under of 216.5, where it sticks as of this writing.
Lakers need their defense
Los Angeles has the 12th ranked scoring offense in the NBA at 110.5 points per game, but its Achilles heel all season has been defense. The Lakers are 24th, allowing 112.4 points per game. They are ninth in the West and have three other teams behind them within four games.
So far, it’s been a waste of a stellar campaign for a 37-year-old James, who is averaging 29.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. The addition of Russell Westbrook has not gone over well. However, he’s averaging 18.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game.
Anthony Davis has been out with a knee injury and isn’t expected back till March. He will certainly give a lift to defense around the rim. He’s averaging 23.1 points, 9.7 rebounds per game, and 2.3 blocks per game.
Los Angeles is just 1-5 over its last six, including 2-4 against the spread and on over/unders.
Mavericks finding groove
The Mavericks have been very good of late. Dallas has won eight of its last nine against the spread and 7-2 straight up in that stretch and 3-6 on over/unders.
On Feb. 10, at the start of this stretch, the Mavericks moved on from Kristaps Porzingis, sending him to Washington in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.
Since their arrival, they’ve been coming off the bench together, and it has worked out well. Dinwiddie has been wildly efficient, scoring 14.0 points per game and slashing .639/.462/.364.
Bertans, meanwhile, is shooting 39.3% on 3-pointers, up eight points, and is taking more per contest to average 9.8 points per game.
Those additions are welcome to bolster the backcourt and frontcourt and improve the 25th-ranked offense (106.7 ppg). Defensively they are second, allowing 103.4 points per game, and fourth in forcing teams to shoot 33.6% on 3-pointers.
Mavericks-Lakers betting prediction
This season Dallas is 34-27 against the spread and 21-39-1 on over/unders while also going 16-14 away from home. The Lakers are 26-34 against the spread and 32-27-1 on over/unders.
It’s a contrast of styles, and while the Lakers can score it, Dallas’ defense should be able to hold serve. If there’s any caution, it is that the Mavericks are playing their third straight road game after the All-Star break. But that shouldn’t be enough to hamper them (-4.5) against a bad Lakers team.
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