Dallas (31-27) at LA Lakers (34-21)
- When: Feb 25 2025, 10:00 PM
- Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- TV: TNT
Game Preview
Lakers Favored by 9.0, Total Set at 232.5
The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks take center stage on Tuesday night in what is expected to be an electric showdown, following their blockbuster trade involving Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis. However, while Doncic is set to play, Davis remains sidelined with an adductor strain, leaving Mavericks fans still waiting to see their full roster in action.
With Los Angeles favored by 9 points at home and the total set at 232.5, this matchup is loaded with storylines and betting angles. Can Doncic lead the Lakers to another statement win, or will Dallas rise to the occasion and spoil his night in front of the home crowd? Let’s break it all down.
Los Angeles Lakers: Building Chemistry with Doncic and LeBron
The Lakers (32-25) enter this game coming off one of their most dominant performances of the season, a 123-100 road blowout against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. The win marked Luka Doncic’s best game since arriving in Los Angeles, as he poured in 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, showing that he is finally settling into his new role alongside LeBron James.
Doncic admitted that adjusting to his new surroundings has taken some time, but his performance against Denver proved that he’s starting to find his rhythm.
“You can see it, me smiling on the court, having fun,” Doncic said after the victory. “There’s been an adjustment period, but I’m getting more comfortable.”
LeBron James was equally impressed with Doncic’s locked-in mentality, emphasizing that his aggressiveness and decision-making were exactly what the Lakers needed.
“He was very locked in on what he wanted to do out there,” James said. “He was just dialed in on what he wanted to do and how he wanted to execute his game plan individually.”
James has been red-hot since the trade, averaging 28.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists over his last seven games. Additionally, Austin Reaves has continued to thrive, putting up 23.9 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game in February.
The Lakers have gone 2-2 with Doncic in the lineup, but with each passing game, their chemistry is improving, and they will be highly motivated to put on a show at home against his former team.
Key Betting Trends for Los Angeles:
Lakers are 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games.
Los Angeles has won 7 of its last 10 matchups against Dallas.
The Over has hit in just 3 of the Lakers’ last 10 games.
Player Prop to Watch:
Luka Doncic Over 30.5 Points – Doncic is coming off his best game as a Laker and will be looking to make a statement against Dallas.
Dallas Mavericks: Searching for Consistency Without Davis
The Mavericks (31-26) have struggled to find a rhythm since the trade, largely due to Anthony Davis’ lingering injury issues. While Davis showed promise in his Dallas debut, putting up 26 points and 16 rebounds, he re-aggravated his abdominal injury in that game and hasn’t played since.
Since returning from the All-Star break, Dallas has gone 1-1, including a 126-102 road loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. In that game, the Mavericks were dominated on the glass (54-41) and committed 18 turnovers, which led to 30 points for Golden State.
With Dallas now facing a Lakers team that just recorded a season-high 15 steals against Denver, ball security will be a major concern.
Kyrie Irving and P.J. Washington each scored 17 points in the loss, but neither could offset the Mavericks’ defensive struggles.
Irving acknowledged that this game is already filled with narratives, but his focus remains on getting his team back on track.
“Outside of the obvious storyline of Luka playing his old team, the focus is on executing and winning a high-level game,” Irving said.
Washington also spoke about the challenge of facing Doncic, admitting that stopping him will be no easy task.
“It’s Luka, and we know how good he is,” Washington said. “He’s tough to contain, tough to slow down, but we have to give it our best shot.”
With Dallas playing its second road game in three days, the team will need a much sharper effort on both ends to keep this game competitive.
Key Betting Trends for Dallas:
Mavericks are 5-1 ATS in their last six games as underdogs.
Dallas is 4-2 ATS in its last six games against the Lakers.
The Mavericks are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games.
Player Prop to Watch:
Kyrie Irving Over 4.5 Assists – With Davis still out, Irving will be the primary playmaker and should see increased facilitation opportunities.
Game Prediction & Best Bets
With Anthony Davis out and Luka Doncic finally hitting his stride, the Lakers hold a clear edge in this matchup. Dallas has struggled to take care of the ball, and against a defensive-minded Lakers team that forces turnovers, that could be the deciding factor.
That said, Dallas has covered the spread in four of its last six against Los Angeles, and if Kyrie Irving gets hot, the Mavericks could keep this game close enough to cover.
Best Bets:
Dallas +9.0 – The Mavericks have played the Lakers close in recent matchups, and this spread feels a bit inflated.
Under 232.5 – With Dallas missing Davis and the Lakers playing stronger defense, expect a lower-scoring game than the total suggests.
Luka Doncic Over 30.5 Points – Revenge game against his former team? Expect a big night.
Final Score Prediction: Lakers 112, Mavericks 106
- NBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
