Lakers vs Mavericks NBA Pick: Luka Doncic’s Revenge Game (Apr 9)

• The Lakers faced a 136-120 defeat against the Thunder. ​
• The Mavericks most recent game was a loss to the Clippers 135-104.​
• These two teams last met on Feb. 25, 2025, with the Lakers securing a 107-99 victory. ​

The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks are set to clash on Apr 9, 2025, in an eerie and wild Western Conference matchup. This game holds significant implications for playoff positioning and the return of Anthony Davis to play the Lakers in Los Angeles for the first time.

Lakers Have Been Good But Slippery

The Lakers (48-31) hold the third seed in the Western Conference. Their recent loss to the Thunder highlighted some defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in containing high-scoring opponents.

Luka Dončić, since his acquisition from the Mavericks in February, has been a transformative presence for the Lakers, averaging over 27 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds per game.

LeBron James continues to be a cornerstone for the team, leading in points (24.5 PPG), rebounds (7.9 RPG), and assists (8.4 APG).

To secure a victory against Dallas, the Lakers will need to tighten their defense and capitalize on the offensive synergy between Dončić and James.​

Mavericks Look To Get Big Win For AD

The Mavericks (38-41) are currently positioned tenth in the Western Conference, placing them within the play-in tournament bracket. The midseason acquisition of Anthony Davis aimed to strengthen their roster; however, Davis has faced injury setbacks that have impacted his availability and the team’s overall performance.

With only a few games remaining, the Mavericks are in a precarious position, needing to secure wins to maintain their play-in spot and potentially improve their seeding.

Defeating the Lakers would be a significant step toward achieving postseason qualification and could provide the momentum needed for a successful play-in tournament run.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks Pick

The Lakers, currently holding the third seed, aim to maintain or improve their position to ensure home-court advantage in the first round. Conversely, the Mavericks are striving to solidify their spot in the play-in tournament, with an eye on advancing to the playoffs.​ Both teams have something to fight for as the wounds from the Davis-Luka deal are still open and fresh. Davis, when healthy, has been motivated; count on that to pass the Lakers on a back-to-back night.