The Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks clash at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday night. This is the first time that both teams will be meeting each other this season. LeBron James and the rest of the Showtime look good after securing two-straight wins. They are coming off a strong home win against the Magic. The Mavs, on the other hand, will try to protect a two-game winning streak of their own. Head coach Jason Kidd will build from a 120-96 victory versus the Hornets.

Nitrobetting keeps you up with the latest Lakers vs. Mavs information in this preview. Find event details, team and player stats, and the latest NBA betting odds, trends, and predictions below.

Lakers vs. Mavericks Game Information

Playing for each other. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/zolNbTas8Q

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 14, 2021

• When: Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 7:30 PM ET
• Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
• TV: NBA TV
• Radio: 710 ESPNLA (Lakers) / Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM (Nuggets)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: TBA

READ MORE: Clippers vs. Jazz 2021 NBA Odds and Preview – December 15th, 2021

Why Bet on the Los Angeles Lakers?

The Lakers won five of their last seven games, bringing the team back on the playoff track. They held their opponents to less than 100 points in their last two games. We’ve seen the team improve defensively in the. They currently average 111.5 opponent points (26th) per game. Defensive rebounding is one of their strongest suits, averaging 36.4 boards (fourth) in 28 games. Additionally, they limit teams to 44.7% shooting. This is the 12th best record in the league at the moment.

Previewing the offense, this is where most of the Lakers’ threat comes from. They average 111.3 points (fifth) per game on 46.6% shooting. Most of the damage is dealt in the paint where they average 47.9 points (ninth) per game. The Lakers are not the deadliest team from downtown but do enough to hit 35.7% of three-point attempts (13th). This should be a plus for the visitors knowing that the Mavs are more vulnerable from beyond the arc.

Talen Horton-Tucker enters the NBA’s health and safety protocols. This leaves him out for a few games. Wayne Ellington is expected to fill in for the forward. Furthermore, the duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis are under observation following previous injuries.

Why Bet on the Dallas Mavericks?

The Mavs are right behind the Lakers in the Western Conference standings at No. 7 seed. They have to improve their record to avoid the Play-In Tournament, which started in 2020. They have a solid campaign thanks to the performance improvement by Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian forward has been doing some heavy lifting for the team, and a win against the Lakers would be good for the team’s morale. He holds the second-best record in points and rebounds while setting a team-high 1.6 blocks per game.

As a team, the Mavs average 104.4 points (26th) per game on 44.5% shooting (22nd). The offensive numbers might not weigh much against the Lakers in this contest. What gives the Mavs the edge in the game is their ability to defend. The hosts hold opponents to 104.5 points (seventh) per game. They held competitors to 96 points or below in their last three wins. This should put more pressure on the Lakers’ offense come Wednesday night.

Star guard Luka Doncic remains out of the lineup for the third time in a row due to ankle soreness. Jalen Brunson is expected to start the game for the team. Additionally, Willie Cauley-Stein will miss the game due to personal reasons. Dwight Powell will fill in for him in his absence.

Lakers vs. Mavericks Betting Trends

• The Lakers are 3-2 in the last five regular-season road games against the Mavs (3-2 ATS).
• The Lakers are 4-2 in the last six regular-season road games (3-3 ATS).
• The totals went over in three of the Lakers’ last four regular-season road games against the Mavs.
• The Mavs are 3-2 in the last five regular-season games (3-2 ATS).
• The Mavs are 2-2 in the last four regular-season home games against the Lakers.
• The totals went under in five of the Mavs’ last ten regular-season home games against the Lakers.

Lakers vs. Mavericks Expert Betting Prediction

The Lakers vs. Mavs game is an interesting matchup for bettors and fans. Both teams produced similar results in recent weeks and look to improve their record before the second half of the season. However, considering the absence of key players on game day, the Lakers might have a tougher time bringing this one home. They can cover the spread in this one, but the hosts have the upper hand with home-court advantage on their side. Kristaps Porzingis plays a significant role in their search for another win.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at NitroBetting news. Stay tuned for more NBA game previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Basketball betting odds on the sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.