Friday’s Tip Sheet

Game of the Night: Lakers at Mavericks – 9:45 PM EST

Betting Odds: Dallas -1.5, Total 222.5
Provided by DraftKings (IN, NJ & PA only)

Unfortunately, this is the final regular season meeting between these two Western squads, who may see each other again in the postseason. The Lakers (30-7 SU, 19-17-1 ATS) are riding a six-game winning streak since losing at home to the Clippers on Christmas night, which includes a 108-95 triumph at Staples Center over the Mavericks on December 29. Los Angeles swept a five-game homestand, capped off by a 117-87 blowout of New York on Tuesday as 13-point favorites, but star forward Anthony Davis sustained a bruise on his buttocks and is questionable for Friday’s matchup.

Dallas (23-14 SU, 19-17-1 ATS) continued a negative recent trend by falling to 1-7 in the last eight games off a win after dropping a one-point heartbreaker to Denver, 108-107 on Wednesday. Kristaps Porzingis remains out for Dallas with a sore right knee as the Mavericks are 2-4 in the last six games, which includes three losses by five points or less. Since winning at Philadelphia on December 20, the Mavs are 4-5 with four losses to teams owning winning records, while the four victories are against squads with losing records.

The Lakers own a 15-3 record on the highway, which includes erasing a 15-point halftime deficit in a 119-110 overtime thriller at American Airlines Center on November 1. The Mavs picked up revenge at Staples Center exactly one month later in a 114-100 victory as 6 ½-point underdogs, highlighted by 27 points and 10 assists from Dallas star Luka Doncic. In the most recent matchup back in L.A. in late December, the Lakers pulled away late in the first quarter and cruised to a 13-point win as five-point favorites to improve to 7-1 in the past eight meetings with the Mavericks.

Heat at Nets – 7:35 PM EST

Betting Odds: Miami -3, Total 217
Provided by DraftKings (IN, NJ & PA only)

The beat goes on for Miami (27-10 SU, 22-13-2 ATS), who not only is in control of the Southeast division, but also is currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference behind Milwaukee. The Heat rolled past the Pacers, 122-108 in a heated contest on Wednesday for its second victory over Indiana in the last three weeks. Miami owns an incredible 7-2 record against five of the top six teams in the East (Milwaukee, Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia, Indiana), but the Heat has lost on the road in the last month to Memphis, Washington, and Orlando.

Brooklyn (16-20 SU, 16-20 ATS) knew it wouldn’t have Kevin Durant at their disposal this season, but Kyrie Irving has missed the last 25 games with a shoulder injury. The Nets won nine of 12 games when Irving was initially sidelined, but have gone backwards of late by posting a 3-10 record the last 13 trips to the court, while riding a seven-game skid. Brooklyn last won a game on December 21 against Atlanta, while coming off a tough overtime loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, 111-103 as they were outscored, 10-2 in the extra session.

The Heat moved above the .500 mark on the road (10-9) with Tuesday’s rout of Indiana, as Miami seeks its second victory at Barclays Center this season. On December 1, the Heat escaped Brooklyn with a 109-106 triumph as 4 ½-point favorites and won in spite of shooting 39% from the floor. Miami is looking for consecutive road wins for the second time this season, while Brooklyn has failed to cover the spread in each of its past 10 defeats.

Spurs at Grizzlies – 8:05 PM EST

Betting Odds: Pick 'em, Total 231.5
Provided by DraftKings (IN, NJ & PA only)

These teams are pretty close in the standings although many didn’t believe Memphis would own as many wins as San Antonio in early January. The Grizzlies (16-22 SU, 19-18-1 ATS) are riding a three-game winning streak, while posting an incredible 11-4-1 ATS the last 15 contests dating back to December 9. The most recent victory came against the Timberwolves on Tuesday, 119-112 to cash as 4 ½-point home favorites, led by the backcourt duo of Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant, who combined for 53 points.

The Spurs (16-20 SU, 14-21-1 ATS) have been one of the biggest disappointments so far this season, but San Antonio is fresh off a pair of impressive blowout victories over Milwaukee and Boston. After knocking off the Bucks at home by 22 points, the Spurs went into TD Garden and dominated the Celtics, 129-114 as seven-point underdogs on Wednesday. Gregg Popovich’s team is on an 8-2 OVER run the last 10 games, while eclipsing the 117-point mark in five of the past six contests.

San Antonio still owns one of the worst ATS marks in the league, but it has been better recently by covering in eight of the last 11 trips to the court. One of those covers came in a 145-115 rout of Memphis at FedEx Forum on December 23 as short one-point favorites, highlighted by a 46-point first quarter. San Antonio shot lights out by hitting 67% of its attempts from the floor, led by LaMarcus Aldridge’s 40 points, while DeMar DeRozan knocked down 10-of-11 shots for 26 points.

You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com

Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.

Odds Subject to Change