NBA Odds: Dallas Mavericks vs L.A. Lakers Preview & Game 2 Free Pick
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Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Date: Wednesday, May 4, 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Staples Center
Broadcast: TNT
Mavericks vs. Lakers betting lines from BetOnline.com
Money Line:
Spread: Lakers -7
Over/Under: 187.5
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The Dallas Mavericks may have plenty of question marks, but they’re still leading their second-round series with the Los Angeles Lakers 1-0. Game 2 of the series gets underway on Wednesday.
Dallas is coming off a 96-94 victory on Monday. After relying so heavily on Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry for scoring against Portland in the last round, the Mavs finally got a win with a little help from everybody.
Five different players scored in double figures for Dallas in Game 1. Nowitzki led the team with a fantastic effort, finishing with 28 points and 14 rebounds. Terry added 15 points off the bench while Tyson Chandler (11 points, nine rebounds), Peja Stojakovic (10 points) and Shawn Marion (10 points) found ways to contribute.
Getting modest contributions like that has made a tremendous difference for the Mavericks this season. The club is 50-5 when four or more players score in double figures. When three or fewer players score 10-plus points, Dallas is just 7-10 this season.
The Lakers, on the other hand, looked like a one-man band. Kobe Bryant was truly the only player to show up, finishing with 36 points and five rebounds. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom both had double-doubles, but no other Laker even scored double-figures.
Gasol’s play remains a major hindrance. Though his overall line was rock solid (15 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists), he’s yet to deliver a game-changing performance during the postseason. Gasol hasn’t topped 17 points during the playoffs, and without his scoring touch the Lakers have suffered through a see-saw run.
With Bryant being counted on to do most of the scoring, the Lakers have relied on defense this season. Even that didn’t go right, as Dallas shot 56.8 percent from the field in the second half on Monday. The Mavericks shot 49.4 percent for the game.
Los Angeles is looking more and more vulnerable by the day, but Dallas by no means has everything figured out. Consistent scoring keeps the team from feeling like a true challenger, and chances are it will be the Nowitzki and Terry Show again in Game 2. That will be enough for the Lakers to win and cover.
Dallas at Los Angeles pick: Lakers
Ian Van Den Hurk has covered amateur and pro sports for years, including a successful run handicapping anything from football to mixed martial arts.
