Check out our free Mavericks vs Lakers pick and preview for this NBA game in Los Angeles. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this NBA matchup.
Mavericks vs Lakers NBA Pick & Preview
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers
- Where: Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena
- Date: Thursday, January 12th
- Betting Odds LAL +3, DAL -160 | LAL +131 O/U 229.5
The Mavericks come into today’s matchup with an overall record of 23-19. So far, the team has gone 14-26-2 against the spread. The Mavericks head into today’s action in the midst of a 2 game losing streak. This has come while posting an average scoring margin of -11.5.
Dallas is trying to bounce back from a 113-101 loss to the Clippers. Going into this game, the team was 0 point underdogs on the spread, giving them an ATS loss. Dallas got off to a slow start, trailing by 22 points going into halftime. In the loss, Luka Doncic led the team in scoring with 43 points on a field goal percentage of 54.5%.
So far, the Lakers have put together an overall record of 19-22, while going 18-20-3 vs the spread. Looking back on Lakers’ previous 3 games, they have a record of 2-1 while averaging 125 points per game. Over this stretch, their ATS mark is 2-0-1.
The Lakers are coming off a game in which they lost to the Nuggets by a score of 122-109. However, because they were the 13 point underdogs, they finished with an ATS push. In the loss, Los Angeles got off to a slow start, trailing by 14 points going into halftime. In the loss, Russell Westbrook led the team in scoring with 25 points on a field goal percentage of 47.6%.
Head To Head Recap & Stats
I In last year’s head-to-head meetings, the Mavericks averaged 113.67 points per game vs Los Angeles, which was an increase over their season-long average. While the Mavericks saw a boost in scoring, the Lakers averaged 107.0 points per contest in head-to-head meeting vs Dallas. This figure was similar to season-long average. Across the previous 5 meetings between the teams, the Mavericks have an average scoring margin of +9 points per game, leading to an ATS mark of 4-1. A combined average of 219 points per game was achieved in these matchups, leading to an over-under mark of 2-3.
Odds & Free Betting Analysis For This NBA Game
Through 42 games, the Mavericks are averaging 112.1 points per contest, placing them 21st in the NBA. So far, the Mavericks are averaging 96.5 possessions per game, which places them below the NBA average. This deliberate style of basketball has played a role in the unit ranking just 30th in made shots per game.
On the defensive end of the floor, the Mavericks are giving up an average of 104.72 points per game, good for 2nd in the NBA.
Point-Guard Luka Doncic currently leads the Mavericks at 34.2 points per game. For the season, he is 2nd in the NBA in usage rate and has taken 27.5% of the team’s field goal attempts. In addition to his scoring, Doncic is averaging 8.9 boards and 8.7 assists per contest. In today’s game, he is facing off against the NBA’s 21st ranked defense at defending point-guards. Christian Wood enters the game sitting second on the team in scoring. Through 39 games, he is averaging 18.0 and is 60th in the league in player efficiency rating.
Coming into today’s action, Los Angeles is averaging 116.7 points per contest. This figure places them 7th in the league. So far, Los Angeles is averaging 102.6 possessions per game, making them one of the more up-tempo teams in the league. Heading into the game, the Lakers will look to continue with their formula of playing fast and getting to the basket, as they are near the top of the league in two-point fields made per game.
On defense, the Lakers will look for some improved play, as they are currently the 28th ranked unit in points allowed per game.
A key injury to note in this game is the absence of the Lakers 2nd leading scorer, Anthony Davis. In his 25 games, Davis is averaging 27.4 points per game while dishing out 2.6 assists and grabbing 12.1 rebounds. In his absence, the team will be looking for even more production out of LeBron James, who leads the team and is 9th in the NBA at 29.1 points per contest. For the season, he has connected on 51.0% of his field goal attempts while taking 25.2% of the team’s shots from the floor.
Mavericks vs Lakers Pick
- Free Spread Prediction: Mavericks -3.0
- Free Total Prediction: Under 229.5
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