The Los Angeles Lakers return home Thursday night looking to avoid entering the All-Star break on a three-game losing streak. They host a Dallas Mavericks team that has lost eight straight and could be without rookie centerpiece Cooper Flagg. L.A. is 2-0 against Dallas this season and has won four straight in the rivalry since the Luka Dončić trade. Dončić (hamstring) won’t suit up against his former team, but LeBron James and Austin Reaves are expected back in the lineup, a key boost for a Lakers team hovering near the Western Conference play-in line. Here at PayPerHead, you’ll find our Mavericks vs Lakers prediction and everything you need to know before kickoff.
How to Watch Mavericks vs Lakers
Date: Thursday, Feb. 12
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Prime Video
Venue: Crypto.com Arena
Mavericks vs Lakers Preview: Eight-Game Slide Meets Playoff Pressure
This game could have featured Luka Dončić against the Dallas Mavericks. Instead, it’s about who can function better without their star.
Dončić is officially out with a left hamstring strain, and Dallas may also be without Cooper Flagg (midfoot sprain), who is doubtful after undergoing imaging. Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II remain sidelined, leaving the Mavericks extremely thin offensively and defensively. The Lakers, meanwhile, get LeBron James back after he missed Tuesday’s loss to San Antonio.
The Mavericks’ biggest red flag during their eight-game skid has been slow starts and inconsistent perimeter shooting. They fell behind by 31 against Phoenix before rallying late and shot just 5-of-22 from three in that loss. Without spacing or rim protection, they’re asking role players to carry too much.
L.A. has already beaten Dallas twice this season and has won four straight in the matchup overall. If this becomes a physical half-court game, the Lakers have the experience and structure edge.
Mavericks Recent Scores
Dallas enters on an eight-game losing streak, including a 120-111 defeat to Phoenix, where they trailed by as many as 31 points before a late push made the score respectable. Before that, they dropped back-to-back games to the Spurs (138-125 and 135-123), fell to Boston 110-100, and lost tight contests against Houston (111-107) and Charlotte (123-121). The pattern has been consistent: defensive lapses, slow starts, and unreliable outside shooting. Even when they get to the free-throw line, they’ve struggled to string together stops.
Lakers Recent Scores
The Lakers have hit a bump, losing to the Spurs (136-108) and Thunder (119-110) after a three-game win streak. That stretch included wins over Golden State (105-99), Philadelphia (119-115), and Brooklyn (125-109). The offense has been stable when LeBron is available, but defensive consistency has wavered. At home, though, L.A. has generally taken care of business, particularly against Dallas.
Mavericks vs Lakers Prediction
Without Dončić, the Lakers lose elite shot creation. But Dallas may be without even more. If Flagg sits, the Mavericks are left leaning heavily on Naji Marshall and secondary scorers to generate offense. Against a rested LeBron-led unit at home, that’s a difficult formula.
Expect L.A. to attack inside, control pace, and avoid the early defensive breakdowns that plagued them against San Antonio.
Our prediction at PayPerHead: Lakers 118, Mavericks 104.
