Luka vs LeBron on TNT 🍿

Don't be fooled by the standings - the Lakers and Mavs are a lot closer together than their respective conference rankings might suggest. With TNT airing tonight's matchup between Luka and LeBron, you won't want to miss the halftime show with Shaq and the boys 🏀 (4 min read)

Author

Cooper Halpern
January 12, 2023

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

Lakers vs. Mavs Preview

Somehow, halfway through the NBA season, the Western Conference's fourth and 12th seeds are separated by just 3.5 games. Tonight, if the Lakers can pull off the upset over the Mavericks in Los Angeles, that gap could get even closer 🔥

It should be an exciting game, since the Mavs have won the last three contests against the Lakers, but the last time the Lakers won, this happened 🚨

With only Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber out for the Mavs, and LeBron questionable for LAL, here's how Vegas has lines set up for now. Obviously if Bron doesn't suit up this line will change 👇

  • Spread: Mavs -3

  • Moneyline: Mavs -146 (bet $146, win $100), Lakers +124 (bet $100, win $124)

  • Over/Under: 229

  • When: 10PM EST on TNT

Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Lakers Making Moves?

With the team's losing record and the trade deadline almost a month away, it's only natural to ask whether the Lakers' brass wants to use any of their remaining draft capital to upgrade this year's squad, wait til next year to make a bigger move, or refrain altogether in order to stockpile assets if LeBron declines, retires, or leaves to play with Bronny. If the Lakers do make a move, here's what they have to offer in terms of draft assets over the next decade 📝

  • 2 future first round picks

  • 9 future second round picks

Even if they don't make a move, Anthony Davis — who was playing like an MVP candidate before he went down — is on track to return from a foot injury within the coming weeks. And with LeBron and the Lakers starting to put things together over the last month, even after AD went down, the team could be in good shape by the time Davis returns to the lineup 📈

Since December 11th, here's how the team has fared 👇

  • LeBron is averaging 34 PPG, 7 RPG and 7 APG

  • The Lakers are 9-7 for a .563 winning percentage, a mark that would put them ahead of the Mavs for 4th in the West

Considering how things are trending for the purple and gold, Vice President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka and co. may be wise to bet on LeBron for as long as the 20-year veteran remains one of the game's best...if that ever even ends 🤯

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Mavs Making Moves?

Although the buzz surrounding the league has been about whether the Lakers will make a move, the Mavs' inability to sustain success has also been about their lack of support for their superstar ⭐️

While Luka is leading the NBA in scoring at 34.2 PPG along with almost nine rebounds and nine assists, he doesn't have a teammate averaging 20 PPG, or a fourth teammate averaging in double digits. Even after adding Christian Wood in the offseason, without a true number two, it will be hard for Luka to carry the Mavs over the hump by himself 🥇

Now, Vegas has the Mavs way outside of the inner circle of contenders at 12th overall (+2500) to win it all. Despite faring better than some of them through this point in the season, while the Lakers are currently slotted at 15th (+5500) 🏆

Trivia Question: Which retired NBA player holds the record for the most consecutive games played?

Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images

For My Parlay Gurus

Between these two top-heavy teams, the Mavs are the clear favorite. However, the Lakers have quietly been one of the best team in the NBA to bet on against the spread over the past two weeks. Keep betting on LAL before the world catches on, and expect them to cover against the Mavs. Here's who I'm taking tonight 👇

  • Lakers +3 vs. Mavs: -110

  • Thunder +10 @ Sixers: -110

$100 on this bet would win you $264 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: Former Laker and Maverick A.C. "Iron Man" Green played in a record 1,192 consecutive regular season games during his 16-year NBA career

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