8:40 pm
April 24

Lakers @ Mavericks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Lakers (35-24)

@ Dallas Mavericks (32-26)

 

Current odds:

Los Angeles Lakers: (+105)

Dallas Mavericks: (-125)

 

• The line for this game is Mavericks by 1.5 points.

• Lineup note: Anthony Davis (calf) will be limited to around 25 minutes Saturday.

• Status note: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) a game-time decision Saturday.
• Status note: Marc Gasol (finger) available to play Saturday.
• Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) ruled out Saturday.
• Josh Richardson (hamstring) ruled out Saturday.
• Maxi Kleber (back) available to play Saturday.

• Playing for the first time after missing 30 straight games because of a right calf strain, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis said he felt like himself physically. Davis finished 2-for-10 from the field, with four points, four rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal in 17 minutes, as the Lakers lost 115-110 to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

• With the win, the Mavericks, No. 7 in the Western Conference, improved to 32-26 and inched closer to the 35-24 Lakers, who hold the No. 5 seed.

• Like Dallas, the Portland Trail Blazers are 32-26 and currently the No. 6 seed; Portland holds the tiebreaker over the Mavericks because they lead the season series 2-1 over Dallas.

• The Lakers are working to hold off the Mavericks and avoid the play-in game for seeds 7-10. However, Davis will likely have a minutes restriction — playing 15-to-20 minutes in just one half against the Mavericks again on Saturday.

• Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle will continue to lean on his superstar, Luka Doncic, to carry his team on both ends of the floor. Doncic finished with a game-high 30 points, along with nine rebounds and eight assists in the win over the Lakers on Thursday. Over the past five games, Doncic has averaged 30 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds a contest. The Mavericks are 3-2 in those games.

• The Mavericks play seven games at home and seven on the road in their final 14 games of the regular season. However, Dallas is just 15-14 at home this season.

• Dallas could be playing Saturday without two of its core rotational players, with Kristaps Porzingis (left ankle sprain) and Maxi Kleber (lower back contusion) questionable.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Los Angeles Lakers
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