The Dallas Mavericks (31-27) and Los Angeles Lakers (34-21) will meet in the NBA on Tuesday, with Luka Doncic officially set to face off against his former team for the first time tonight. Tipoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game will broadcast live on TNT.
The Lakers are 9-point favorites over the Mavericks on the spread (Lakers -9), with the over/under set at 233.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -395 favorite to win outright, while Dallas is +310 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Mavericks vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, February 25.
Mavericks vs. Lakers Picks, Prediction
Spread
My Lakers vs. Mavericks best bet is on Los Angeles to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
Moneyline
While I like the Lakers against the spread, I see no value on Los Angeles on the moneyline.
Over/Under
Similarly, I do not see any value on the total in this matchup.
My Pick: Lakers -9
Mavericks vs. Lakers Odds
| Mavericks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9 -110 | 233.5 -110o / -110u | +310 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9 -110 | 233.5 -110o / -110u | -395 |
- Mavericks vs. Lakers spread: Lakers -9
- Mavericks vs. Lakers over/under: 233.5 total points
- Mavericks vs. Lakers moneyline: Mavericks +310, Lakers -395
- Mavericks vs. Lakers best bet:Lakers -9
Mavericks vs. Lakers Preview
The Trade comes full circle here with Luka Dončić getting a showdown against the Dallas Mavericks for the first time since he was unceremoniously shipped off to Los Angeles for Anthony Davis and Max Christie. The Mavericks are decimated by injuries right now and the Lakers should be able to put on a strong showing with their stars all aligned.
The Mavericks have almost zero interior presence despite trading for Davis given all of the injuries they are suffering. They will be without Davis (adductor), Daniel Gafford (MCL), and Dereck Lively II (ankle) for this contest, and may also be without Dwight Powell (hip) and Caleb Martin (hip) who missed Sunday's game. The Lakers have a clean bill of health as of now.
The Lakers have been cruising since the start of January. Since Jan. 1, the Lakers have the fifth-best Net Rating (+7.3), the ninth-best offense (118.7), and the fourth-best defense (111.4). While some of this is with Davis, they have maintained this even without him, with nearly identical ranks on both sides of the ball, per Cleaning the Glass.
Dončić finally looked like himself in the last game against the Denver Nuggets. He racked up 32 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists with four 3s as the Lakers dominated the Nuggets. He operated more as the primary offensive option in that game and continued to find Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes in advantageous situations.
Dončić is a transcendent talent. This season, he is averaging 26.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, which is somehow a down year by his standards. Last season, he led the league in scoring with 33.9 PPG to go along with 9.2 RPG and 9.8 APG. I expect him to put forward a strong performance in this contest in the ultimate revenge spot.
While all eyes will be on Dončić, the player to watch is Max Christie. Christie was not just a throw-in for The Trade. He's been excellent for Dallas in eight games, averaging 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He has 15+ points in all but one game, the most recent blowout loss to the Warriors. His points prop is set at 10.5 and I am absolutely betting on a bounce back and will sprinkle 15+ (+265, Bet365).
Mavericks vs. Lakers Prediction
The Mavericks have been staying afloat without any of their bigs. However, this is a matchup where the Lakers should be able punish them on the interior with cuts and effective ball movement.
Since the deadline, Dallas has a +1.0 Net Rating with a 5-2 record – winning 1.3 more games than expected with those advanced stats, per Cleaning the Glass. They're coming off a tough loss, but the Lakers have captured something with this tandem of Dončić, James, and Reaves. So, I will back Los Angeles in this spot.
For a same game parlay, I will take Dončić 25+ points, James 6+ rebounds, and Max Christie 10+ points.
Best Bet: Lakers -9 (-110)
Same Game Parlay Picks
- Luka Dončić 25+ Points
- LeBron James 6+ Rebounds
- Max Christie 10+ Points
Parlay Payout: +134
Lakers vs. Mavericks Betting Trends
