Mavericks vs. Lakers prediction and odds for Friday, March 17 (Trust Los Angeles with AD back)

The Los Angeles Lakers need a bounce-back game on Friday night after losing to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Los Angeles holds the No. 9 seed in the West, sitting one game back of their opponent tonight, the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas has struggled since the Kyrie Irving trade, and the team is going to be without Luka Doncic for the fourth straight game. Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., JaVale McGee and Markieff Morris are all questionable for this game.

That’s a huge break for the Lakers, who are expected to get Anthony Davis (probable) back in the lineup after he missed Wednesday’s loss.

Dallas has gone just 4-9 straight up when Doncic sits this season, and they are set as 5-point underdogs on Friday. Here’s the latest odds and a best bet for this game:

Mavericks vs. Lakers odds, spread and total

Mavericks vs. Lakers prediction and pick

A win on Friday would even the season series for the Lakers against Dallas, and I think they get it with Doncic out of the lineup.

Dallas’ offense takes a major step back without Doncic’s 33.0 points per game, and there’s a chance that Irving or THJR misses this game as well. If that happens, it’s another night of Josh Green and Jaden Hardy running the show.

The Mavericks are also struggling defensively as of late, ranking 22nd in the league in defensive rating over their last 10 games.

The Lakers have looked much better since the trade deadline, and Davis’ return should rejuvenate an offense that struggled against Houston.

Dallas is also just 9-9 ATS as a road dog, losing those games by an average margin of 5.9 points. With Doncic out, I have no choice but to fade this Mavericks team.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.