Lakers vs Mavericks Picks & Odds: Mavericks Heavy Christmas Favorites Vs Lakers

The Dallas Mavericks (17-16 SU, 11-20-2 ATS) are 12-5 SU, 5-10-2 ATS in 17 home games this season heading into this Sunday afternoon's showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavericks will try to earn both a win and a cover as a Lakers vs Mavericks prediction on Christmas Day in Dallas.

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Lakers vs Mavericks Sportsbook Odds

Sportsbook Odds

The Mavericks opened as 4-point favorites on this Christmas Day game back in August before the current state of these two teams drove the Lakers vs Mavericks odds up to Dallas -8. The total in this matchup has also seen a significant bump up to 226.5 points since Sportsbook at 218.5 points. The UNDER is 5-1 in Dallas's last 6 games.

Get the best Lakers vs Mavericks odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night.

Los Angeles Struggling On Defense Without Anthony Davis

The Lakers scored 130 points at home against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, but that surprisingly wasn't enough in a 134-130 loss at home as 2.5-point favorites. LeBron James led the way on offense with 34 points and eight rebounds in the loss, but Los Angeles still fell to 0-4 ATS over its last four games and 0-3 SU over its last three games with the loss.

That 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS skid comes on the heels of a 2-1 SU and 2-0-1 ATS run that Anthony Davis was a part of before he was forced out of action indefinitely with a foot injury. The Lakers have been able to pick up some of the slack on offense to fill in for Davis's 27.4 points per game, though the team is clearly lost without him on defense allowing 132.7 points per game over its last three games.

Dallas Will Have A Big Spread To Try To Cover On Christmas

The Mavericks pulled off a come-from-behind win on the road over the Houston Rockets on Friday, winning 112-106 as a 7-point road favorite. Luka Doncic scored a season-high 50 points in the win while adding 10 assists and eight rebounds. Doncic ranks second in the NBA in scoring with 32.7 points per game this season and fourth league-wide in assists with 8.7 assists per game.

Dallas won the game but failed to cover the spread, improving to 2-0 SU over its last two games and falling to 3-5 ATS over its last eight games. The Mavericks are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games as a betting favorite while going 2-4 ATS in their last six games as a favorite. The squad is 1-14-1 ATS in its last 16 games when closing as a favorite of five points or more.

Lakers vs Mavericks Picks & Insights

Lakers Keys to Win

The Lakers are averaging a respectable 120.4 points per game over their last eight games. To break through with an upset win as a Lakes vs Mavericks prediction, Los Angeles will likely need to solve Dallas's solid defense and win a shootout in a high-scoring game.

Mavericks Keys to Win

Luka Doncic should light up this weak Lakers defense on Christmas Day. Dallas tends to play closer games than it should, so the eight-point spead is scary; but a strong showing on defense and a big game from Doncic sould lead to a win and cover as a Lakers vs Mavericks pick at home.

NBA Computer Picks: Mavericks -8

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