WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2010 – L.A. Lakers vs Dallas Mavs
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Kobe Bryant returned to the Lakers in fine fashion last night, burying a game-winning three in the dying moments of the game.
NBA picks: Kobe, Lakers carrying momentum into Dallas
Team records:
Los Angeles: 43-14 SU, 25-31-1 ATS
Dallas: 36-21 SU, 23-34 ATS
Now, Bryant leads the Lakers into Dallas to face Caron Butler and the new-look Mavericks. Dallas is a slight favorite on NBA odds.
Matchup: Lakers at Mavericks
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Venue: American Airlines Center
Spread: Dallas -1.5
Over/Under: 195
Los Angeles (43-14, 25-31-1 ATS) has won five of its last six games. That’s especially impressive considering superstar guard Kobe Bryant missed all but the last of those contests. Although the Lakers are getting the job done straight up, they haven’t been as effective against the spread; last night’s 99-98 win over Memphis failed to cover, dropping L.A. to a woeful 3-6-1 ATS in its past 10 games. Sportsbook bettors have had much more luck backing the Lakers on the road, where they’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 outings.
Kobe Bryant suited up for the first time in five games last night, and he brought his usual theatrics with him. He shredded the Grizzlies for 32 points, seven boards and six assists—not to mention hitting a buzzer-beating three with just a few seconds left in the game. Several players stepped up in Bryant’s stead, with Pau Gasol, Sheldon Brown, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest each taking turns atop the score sheet. It’s little wonder the Lakers own the NBA’s fifth-ranked offense.
While L.A. is surging, Dallas is stumbling. The Mavericks (36-21, 23-43 ATS) are playing lacklustre basketball; although they’ve won six of their past 10 straight up, the team is sporting a brutal 3-7 record against the spread in those matchups. If you think that’s ugly, you might want to skip over this next stat: the Mavs are 1-9 against the point spread in their past 10 games in Dallas. That’s embarrassing.
Dallas’ offense is a very ordinary 14th in the league at 100.7 points per game. Dirk Nowitzki has carried the load mostly by himself this season, averaging a team-high 24.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Management finally got him some legitimate help by trading Josh Howard for Caron Butler. The former Wizard averaged 16 points in his first four games as a Maverick, but he dropped an absolute stink bomb in Monday’s win over Indiana, scoring eight points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Over the last 10 meetings between Los Angeles and Dallas, the Lakers have dominated straight up (8-2) while the Mavs have a very slim edge against the spread (5-4-1). The Lakers have won and covered the past two.
Lakers vs. Mavericks – FREE PICK
Los Angeles has played solid basketball lately, especially on the road. Energized by the return of Bryant, the Lakers shouldn’t have any trouble handling the Mavericks, who have struggled mightily on their home court. Bet on L.A.
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