The Dallas Mavericks have been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. A Sports Illustrated article highlighted allegations of a hostile workplace and owner Mark Cuban also recently said publicly that tanking was the best option for the franchise. At this point it’s hard to know how well the Mavericks will be able to focus next time out when they hit the road to face the Los Angeles Lakers.
This used to be one of the marquee rivalries in the NBA but both teams have fallen on hard times. The Lakers have been the better team this season and get to play at home, so they should certainly be favored to come away with a victory in this one.
Both teams are lottery bound once again so this game won’t mean much in terms of the postseason.
Don't miss the hardwood action from the Staples Center at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday, February 23, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Friday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Mavericks are 18-40 straight up and 29-29 against the spread this season. Dallas has covered in 16 of their 28 attempts on the road this season. The Mavericks are 23-18 against the spread as the underdog this season, so while they are losing a lot, many of the games have been closer than expected.
The Lakers are 23-34 straight up and 30-27 against the spread. Los Angeles has covered in 16 of 28 attempts at home this season. The Lakers have only been favored 10 times this season, and have covered in six of those contests.
Key Stat
2.4. That’s the Mavericks’ negative point-differential average this season, which is actually better than Los Angeles despite the inferior record. Dallas has been competitive in many games this year but has fallen short.
Point-differential is usually a better indicator of talent than win-loss record, so there is a train of thought to where the Mavericks are actually the more talented team. The location of this game makes the Lakers the favorite, but Dallas could be a nice upset choice.
The Mavericks have lost eight of their past 10 games and it’s fair to wonder if all the losing is wearing on the team, which would be a reason to discount the point-differential boost.
Injury Report
After a six-week absence, Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball is set to return to the lineup in this one. The No. 2 overall pick has dealt with a knee sprain and may not be ready to have a full-time role in this contest.
The Lakers played pretty well without him but Ball is a talented player and returning to the court is critical for his development. Ball is averaging 10.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game. Those numbers look good, but he is only shooting 35.6 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from three-point range.
Ball clearly needs to get his shooting percentages up to more respectable numbers to fulfill the potential expected of him. This will be his first time playing with Isaiah Thomas, who was acquired from the Cavaliers at the trading deadline.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Mavericks might not be as bad as their record indicates, but they are dealing with a lot of controversy right now. The Lakers have played better of late and the return of Ball will help fortify the backcourt. Take the Lakers to take care of business at home in this one.
Los Angeles is also the choice to cover as it should be able to pull away in the second half. The “over” should be a consideration as the Lakers will control the pace, which should be a fast one.
NBA Odds: Lakers 119, Mavericks 111
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