The Dallas Mavericks head to the Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Lakers. The game gets underway at 9:30 pm ET on Sunday, Mar. 8 and will air on NBATV, FSN-SW and TWC SN.
The Lakers lost to the Grizzlies 97-90 on Friday. Jordan Clarkson was the game’s high scorer, finishing with 25. The Mavericks, meanwhile, are coming off a 104-89 loss at the hands of the Warriors on Friday. Rajon Rondo had a good shooting night, leading the team with 14 points.
Jeremy Lin has been playing at a high level as of late for the Lakers, averaging 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 2.2 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.2 three-pointers over the last five games.
Based on each team’s statistical profile, ball protection could play an integral role in this matchup. The Lakers commit the fourth-fewest miscues in the NBA (turnover percentage of 12.6%), while the gambling defense of Los Angeles forces the third-most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 15.9%). Moreover, the fifth-ranked offense of the Mavericks (offensive efficiency of 106.8) will try to exploit the 28th-ranked defense of the Lakers (defensive efficiency of 107.4).
The Mavericks have won both matchups against the Lakers this season, including a 102-98 victory in their last matchup. Rondo was the game’s leading scorer with 21 points.
The odds are even for this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable. The Lakers enter the game with records of 16-45 Straight Up (SU) and 29-30-2 Against The Spread (ATS). They have gone 7-31 SU and 16-20-2 ATS against teams from the Western Conference.
Across the court, Dallas has a SU record of 40-24 and an ATS record of 29-32-3. Dallas has a record of 20-17 SU and 13-21-3 ATS against the West. They sport the fourth-ranked scoring offense in the league, averaging 104.5 points per game. The Mavericks rarely make the wrong play with the ball. They have the fifth-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league at 1.8. A large part of Dallas’s game is creating turnovers and turning them into points. They are scoring 19.2 points per game off turnovers, which ranks first in the league.
Dallas beat Los Angeles in their most recent meeting this season, bringing its SU record in the past 10 games to 6-4. At 5-5, they are even bets ATS. When it comes to field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers, Los Angeles and Dallas each held the edge in all three of these categories twice in the last 10 meetings.
Predictions: SU Winner – DAL, ATS Winner – DAL
Notes
Dallas is one of the top scoring teams, averaging 104.5 points per game (ranked fourth). Los Angeles, on the other hand, gives up 105.8 points per game (ranked 30th).
Dallas puts up an average of 103.0 points per away game (ranked sixth). Los Angeles ranks 30th in points allowed per home game with 105.0.
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Mavericks are 21-3 on the season. When the Lakers score fewer than 100, they are an abysmal 3-26.
Dallas has a 19-21 record when allowing at least 100 points. Los Angeles has a 13-19 record when it hits triple digits.
Ranked fifth, the Mavericks have an offensive rating of 106.8. The Lakers, on the other hand, rank 28th with a defensive rating of 107.4.
Dallas has an average field goal percentage of 46.0% (ranked fifth). Los Angeles is a subpar 4-28 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
On average, Los Angeles attempts 19.1 three pointers and Dallas attempts 26.3 per game. In games where the teams have 25 or more three point attempts, the Lakers have a 3-8 record while the Mavericks have a winning 28-15 record.
Dallas ranks near the top of the league with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.83 (ranked fifth). Los Angeles is ranked 11th, with an A/TO of 1.68 this season.
The Lakers rank 12th in rebounds per game with 43.8, while the Mavericks rank 23rd with 42.2 per game.
Los Angeles is ranked 16th in defensive rebounds, while Dallas ranks 20th in offensive rebounds.
Dallas is one of the top teams in forced turnovers, with opponents averaging a TOV% of 15.9% (ranked third). Los Angeles has an underachieving record of 2-7 SU this season when its TOV% reaches 15.9% or greater.
