Im on the Lakers -6.5 on the road vs the Dallas Mavericks for these reasons:

- Lakers are a decent road team and are the healthier team heading into this one. They are 3-2 in the last 5 road spots, playing a Mavs team without Kyrie and Luka, which really leaves Mavs without a ball handler and facilitator to move the ball and get good shots up.

- Mavs just played last night in Memphis, losing to the Grizzlies 104 to 119, while the Lakers have been off work since Sunday. Don’t look now but the Lakers are now 5th in the Western Conference and are going to need to capitalize on these teams that have injuries to keep pace to make the playoffs. Mavs are 6th currently, so this game is going to be taken very seriously by LeBron and AD who are both playing tonight on two nights rest.

- Too much youth on this Mavs team to expect them to compete at a high level without their vets to match the scoring of LeBron and AD. AD should have his way in the paint vs Gafford and Lively who are young and inexperienced, while LeBron will have his way vs PJ Washington who is undersized compared to LeBron at the SF/PF position. Look for the Lakers role players to have a good night as well, with the Mavs being not as good at defending the perimeter shot, leaving Knect and Reaves in a good position to exploit when the team double teams and focuses on LeBron coming up the court. LeBron might have 10 assists tonight.

Official Play: Lakers -6.5

Side Bet: Austin Reaves 20+ points (-120)

Hail Mary: LeBron 9+ Assists (-110)