Date/Time: 12-29-2019, 21:30 EDT / 02:30 GMT
Spread: Los Angeles Lakers -3.5 Total: +221.5
Two of the most dominant players of this NBA season face off at Staples Center tonight, when the LA Lakers and LeBron James (25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 10.8 assists), are hosting the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic (29.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.1 assists).
The Mavericks are at 21-10 and currently sit on the fifth place of the West. They are 3-1 in their last 4 games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Golden State on the road, 141-121. The Lakers currently have the best record in the West with 25-7 and are coming off an 8-point road victory against Portland that ended a 4-game series of defeats.
Luka Doncic leads the Mavericks in scoring with 29.1 ppg, which is the third-best in the league. He also leads the team both in rebounding with 9.7 and in assists made with 9.1 per game, which is also the third-best in the league. Anthony Davis leads LA both in scoring with 27.5 ppg and in rebounding with 9.3 per game. LeBron James adds 25.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and the 10.8 assists per game are a league-high.
Both teams are tied 1-1 wins this season, with the Lakers having won on the road in overtime with a 110-119 score and the Mavericks winning also on the road, 100-114. LA has a 10-4 home record, while the Mavericks have a 12-3 road record. Dallas has the third-best offense in the league (117.5 to 112.6 ppg) and a better 3-point percentage (36.9% to 35.2%), while LA has a better defense (105.6 to 108.9 ppg) and the second-best field goal percentage in the league (48.2% to 46.4%). LA dishes more assists (26 to 24.9), while Dallas is third-best in the league in rebounding (48.1 to 45.3) and leads the NBA in fewest turnovers per game (12.9 to 15.3). Dallas has already won once again on the road and has been actually playing better on the road (12-3), than at home (9-7). Dallas looks like the slight favorite in this game.
Mavericks vs Lakers Prediction: Dallas Mavericks +3.5 (-109)
