The Los Angeles Lakers aim to maintain an upward trajectory on Thursday at home. Los Angeles is 5-1 in the last six games, improving to 19-22 overall this season, and the Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks, who are 23-19 overall and 7-13 on the road. Patrick Beverley (hip) is listed as questionable for the Lakers, with Anthony Davis (foot), Lonnie Walker IV (knee), and Austin Reaves (hamstring) ruled out. Dwight Powell (hip) is questionable for the Mavericks, with Dorian Finney-Smith (adductor), Josh Green (elbow), and Maxi Kleber (hamstring) ruled out.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Dallas as a 3-point road favorite, and tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 236.5 in the latest Mavericks vs. Lakers odds. Before you make any NBA predictions with the Lakers vs. Mavericks match-up, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 13 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 43-19 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,100. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Mavericks vs. Lakers and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Lakers vs. Mavs:
- Mavericks vs. Lakers spread: Mavericks -3
- Mavericks vs. Lakers over/under: 236.5 points
- Mavericks vs. Lakers money line: Mavericks -155, Lakers +130
- Dallas: The Mavericks are 6-14 against the spread in road games
- Los Angeles: The Lakers are 9-9 against the spread in home games
- Mavericks vs. Lakers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Mavericks can cover
The Mavericks have one of the best players in the league in Luka Doncic, who is averaging 33.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game while engineering a top-tier offense. The Mavericks are scoring 114.8 points per 100 possessions, No. 7 in the NBA, and Dallas is in the top three in free throw creation (26.7 attempts per game) and turnover prevention (12.4 giveaways per game). Los Angeles is in the bottom five in turnover creation, and the Mavericks can be aggressive on offense as a result.
On the other end, Dallas is No. 2 in the NBA in 3-pointers allowed (11.0 per game), and the Mavericks rank in the top eight in assists allowed (23.9 per game) and fast break points allowed (12.4 per game).
Why the Lakers can cover
Though the Lakers are operating without a top-tier player in Davis, Los Angeles has a one-of-a-kind force in LeBron James. For the season, James is averaging 29.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. James has been even better lately, averaging 33.9 points per game on 57.1% shooting over the last 13 games.
James leads an offense that is highly effective, including the No. 2 mark in the NBA with 56.6 points in the paint per game. Los Angeles also ranks in the top five with 16.6 fast break points per game and is in the top eight in field goal percentage (48.6%) and free throw attempts (25.2 per game). The Lakers are also stout on the defensive glass and in holding opponents to 34.7% from beyond the 3-point arc.
How to make Mavericks vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, with only two players projected to score more than 18 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations.
