Los Angeles Lakers (27-13) +7, 206 at Dallas Mavericks (28-13), 8:30 pm Eastern Friday
by Zman of Predictem.com
Two teams bound for the Western Conference playoffs meet for the first time this season when the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Dallas Mavericks Friday night in Big D.
Dallas is a seven-point home favorite for Friday’s game on NBA betting boards, with a total of 206. The Mavericks are also listed at around -340 on the moneyline, with LA getting +275 as road underdogs.
The Lakers led San Antonio at halftime by nine points Wednesday, but got outscored 31-12 in the third quarter and lost 103-91. LA committed 22 turnovers, which didn’t help things any. Still, the Lakers have won 12 of their last 15 games and sit in second place in the Pacific Division, just a game and a half back of the first-place Phoenix Suns.
Dallas beat Charlotte Wednesday 102-95, its ninth win in the last 11 games. The Mavs are tied for second place in the Southwest Division, just one game back of the first-place New Orleans Hornets.
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Dallas took three of four games from LA last season, winning by nine, 19 and 36 points and losing by three. The o/u went 2-2 in those four games, which averaged 200 total points.
The Lakers are 23-17 against the spread this season, 11-7 straight up and 10-8 vs. the numbers on the road.
The Mavericks are 18-20 ATS this season, 18-3 SU but just 10-9 vs. the numbers at home.
LA ranks 3rd in the league in point differential at +5.9 per game, Dallas 8th at +4.8.
The Lakers are shooting 47% from the field as a team, 37% from 3-point range and 76% from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Mavs are shooting 47% from the floor, 36% from long range and a league-best 82% from the line.
Also, Los Angeles is holding opponents to 44% FG shooting and ranks 7th in rebounding at +1.9 per game, while Dallas allows foes to shoot 45% from the field and ranks 6th in rebounding at +2.1 per game.
LA has split four games since losing leading rebounder Andrew Bynum for two months to a knee injury. On the Mavericks bench, F Jerry Stackhouse is listed as questionable for Friday’s game with a hamstring injury.
The Sagarin PREDICTOR ratings at USAToday.com ranks the Lakers 4th at 95.4, Dallas 7th at 94.5. Sagarin’s current NBA home-court advantage figure is 3.0.
The o/u is 19-20 in LA games this season, which are averaging 209 total points, while the totals are 21-20 in Mavericks games, which are averaging 197 points.
Zman’s Pick: Dallas -7.