Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Dec. 15, 2021

Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Nationally televised NBA coverage will resume on Wednesday night with a blockbuster Western Conference showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Coverage begins from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Score Prediction

Lakers 112, Mavericks 102

Best Bets

Lakers +1 (-110) at DraftKings

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks Predictions

After finishing fifth in the West with a record of 42-30 last year, Dallas stormed out to a strong start to this season, as the Mavericks opened with a solid 9-4 SU run – with over half of those victories coming by eight points or more (5).

The Mavericks’ hot start inevitably fizzled out due to various injury issues though, as Dallas now enters Wednesday’s contest riding a lackluster 5-9 SU skid – while scoring 104 PTS or less in ten of those affairs (103.8 PPG).

On the other hand, Los Angeles posted a surprisingly slow start to begin Russell Westbrook’s tenure with his new squad, as the Lakers kicked things off with a pedestrian 8-9 SU run – despite being favored in over half of those matchups (10).

The Lakers have played much better across their most recent stretch though, considering L. A. enters Wednesday’s contest following wins in seven of the last 11 games – with over half of those victories coming by a double-digit margin (4).

I’ll lay take the point with L. A. here, as the Mavericks are far too difficult to trust offensively without Luka Doncic, averaging a flat 100 PPG across their latest seven-game stretch – which probably won’t be enough against a Lakers squad that’s averaging a lofty 111 PPG across the last six contests.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Resources

• Matchup: Pacific vs. Southwest
• Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2021
• Venue: American Airlines Center
• Location: Dallas, Texas
• TV-Time: ESPN - 7:30 p.m. ET

• Injury Report

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 15-13
• ATS: 11-17
• O/U: 14-13-1

Regardless of the circumstances, hovering so close to .500 is still considered devastating for this new-look Lakers’ squad, but to be fair, they’ve been banged up from the start, so it’s tough to write them off completely, highlighted by LeBron participating in just 16 games so far this season.

The Lakers still tread at sixth in the West with a record of 15-13 though, with the Mavericks and Nuggets closely nipping at their heels at 14-13 – so L. A. desperately needs to continue elevating its game in order to avoid that dreaded Play-In Tournament.

Dallas Mavericks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 14-13
• ATS: 12-15
• O/U: 8-18-1

After a disappointing first-round exit from last year’s playoffs, Dallas jumped out to an encouraging start to the new season, as the Mavericks opened with wins in seven of their first ten games – which included tough victories over Celtics, Nuggets, and Spurs.

The Mavericks’ injury concerns finally caught up with them recently though, as Dallas enters Wednesday’s contest riding an underwhelming 5-9 SU and 7-7 ATS skid – which includes head-scratching losses to the Wizards, Cavaliers, and Pelicans.

(AP) The Lakers are 9-3 SU and 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games against Dallas.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks Head-to-Head

The Mavericks took two-of-three matchups against Los Angeles during last year’s regular season, as the first two matchups resulted in a 1-1 split and went over the total set for Wednesday’s affair at an average of 239 PPG – while the final matchup belonged to Dallas and stayed under at a combined total of 201 PTS (108-93).

Key Players to Watch

• LAL: LeBron James - SF (26.3 PPG, 6.1 REB, 7.1 AST)
• LAL: Russell Westbrook - PG (19.5 PPG, 7.7 REB, 8.4 AST)
• DAL: Kristaps Porzingis - PF (19.5 PPG, 7.9 REB, 2 AST)
• DAL: Tim Hardaway Jr. - SG (14.2 PPG, 3.7 REB, 2.3 AST)

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Conclusion

After winning a second straight game on Sunday night, the Lakers enter Wednesday’s contest as narrow road favorites over the Mavericks at American Airlines Center – marking the sixth consecutive game L. A. has been favored in.

I’ll lay take the point with the Lakers here, as L. A. is finally starting to crank up the heat offensively, having won five of the last seven games while averaging 110.8 PPG across that stretch – while Dallas just can’t catch a break, having lost six of the last ten while averaging just 104.9 PPG across that window.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

• The Lakers are 4-2 ATS across the last six games.
• The total has gone UNDER in seven straight Mavericks' games.
• The Lakers are 9-3 SU and 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games against Dallas.
• The total has gone UNDER in five of the last six Lakers' games.

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