The LA Lakers are heading into Dallas with a slightly different look for their Sunday clash. The team has endured a litany of injuries this season, and their depth took another blow when it was announced that Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will miss the remainder of the regular season.
Doncic went down with a hamstring injury in Thursday’s 139-96 blowout loss to the OKC Thunder, while Reaves suffered a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury. It’s no secret that their absence leaves a huge void in the Lakers’ lineup, forcing coach JJ Redick to rely on 41-year-old LeBron James and the younger players to step up in order to secure home-court advantage.
This will be the fourth and final meeting between the Lakers and Mavericks this season, with LA aiming for its first sweep since the 2018-19 season. The Lakers have not lost a game to Dallas since the Doncic trade, going 5-0.
The two teams last played on Feb. 12, when the Lakers won 124-104 behind LeBron James’ triple-double of 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Naji Marshall and Max Christie paced the Mavericks with 19 points each.
The game tips off at 4:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock.
LA Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Odds
Moneyline: Lakers (-126) vs Mavericks (+105)
Spread: Lakers -1.5 (-110) vs Mavericks +1.5 (-110)
Total (O/U): Lakers o232.5 (-110) vs Mavericks u232.5 (-110)
Editor’s note: The odds could change close to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.
LA Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Preview
The Lakers suffered their most embarrassing loss of the season against the Thunder, falling 139-96. They surrendered an 18-4 lead within the first five minutes of the game, so it was a brutal night for the Purple and Gold.
The Lakers are in a difficult position. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out indefinitely, they aren’t likely to make enough of a surge the rest of the way for a postseason run.
LA also controls its own destiny when it comes to grabbing a top-four spot. The Lakers are third now, a half-game ahead of fourth-place Denver Nuggets and two games ahead of fifth-place Houston Rockets. The Lakers (50-27) are 8-2 in their last 10, while Denver (50-28) is 9-1 and Houston (48-29) is 7-3 in that same span, leaving each team in the hunt for the top four spot. They would need a near-perfect finish, combined with slip-ups from both the Nuggets and Rockets, to move into the top four.
Dallas is in the midst of a three-game losing streak and is coming off a 138-127 defeat to the Orlando Magic on Friday. Cooper Flagg had a historic performance with 51 points, becoming the youngest player ever to achieve this feat.
The Mavericks have had a season to forget due to injuries and will now look to the draft to strengthen their team.
LA Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Injury Reports
LA Lakers Injury Report
The Lakers have placed four players on the injury report. Luka Dončić (hamstring), Austin Reaves (oblique) and Marcus Smart (ankle) are ruled out, while Jarred Vanderbilt is listed as questionable with calf soreness.
Dallas Mavericks Injury Report
Tyler Smith (G League) is listed as questionable, while Marvin Bagley (shoulder), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively (foot), and Caleb Martin (foot) all remain sidelined.
LA Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Starting Lineups
Lakers
PG: Luke Kennard | SG: Jake LaRavia | SF: Rui Hachimura | PF: LeBron James | C: Deandre Ayton
Mavericks
PG: Cooper Flagg | SG: Max Christie | SF: Naji Marshall | PF: P.J. Washington | C: Daniel Gafford
LA Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction
Clashes between the Lakers and Mavericks tend to be entertaining for neutral fans, but without Luka Doncic, this Sunday’s game is more low-key. The Lakers are listed as 1.5-point favorites, but we expect the Mavericks to capitalize on LA’s struggles and eke out a win.
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