Lakers vs Mavericks Predictions, Picks & Odds on April 9

• The LA Lakers are 5.5-point road favorites on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks
• Luka Doncic will make his first appearance in Dallas since that shocking deadline deal
• See my Lakers vs Mavericks predictions, player props, and odds on April 9

---

It will be one of the most emotionally charged atmospheres in the NBA this season, as Luka Doncic returns to Dallas as a member of the LA Lakers (48-31, 18-21 away), his first game in his former home to battle the Mavericks (38-41, 21-17 home). The Luka trade has supercharged the Lakers, who are considered a legit favorite in the NBA Championship odds, while Dallas is clinging to the 10th and final play-in spot in the West. Action tips at 7:30pm ET from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, with ESPN broadcasting the game. The Lakers are the favorite in the NBA odds.

Lakers vs Mavericks Odds

Dallas finds itself as a distant 5.5-point home underdog, and a lengthy +184 on the moneyline. The Lakers are a short -220 on the moneyline, while the total sits at 228 points, with -110 odds on either side. The Under has cashed in six of the last seven head-to-head matchups.

Odds as of April 9 at FanDuel. Be sure to check out the best FanDuel promo code before placing a bet on any NBA game on Wednesday.

Perhaps a bit of a surprise, but JJ Redick dressed his full roster of players Tuesday’s 136-120 loss to the Thunder, save for forward Rui Hachimura (knee), even with the Dallas game the following night.

For the Mavs, guard Jaden Hardy (ankle) and big man Daniel Gafford both missed Dallas’ last game against the Clippers, and are looking like game-time decisions for Wednesday.

LAL vs DAL Player Props

NBA player props from FanDuel on April 9.

Of course, all eyes are on Luka Doncic, and he rightly has the highest scoring prop in this game at 29.5 points. LeBron James is right behind him at 23.5 points, with Austin Reaves in at 19.5 points.

Anthony Davis, the centerpiece of the Lakers’ package to acquire Doncic, leads the Mavericks in scoring with a 25.5 scoring line, while leading all players with a 10.5 rebounding line.

AD is playing his sixth game since returning from an adductor injury, and he’s finally showing his all-star form, averaging 30.5 points, 12 rebounds and 2.5 blocks over his last two games.

Doncic has the highest assist prop at 8.5, while James and Dallas’ Spencer Dinwiddie are just a dime back at 7.5.

Los Angeles Lakers vs OKC Thunder Picks

• Lakers vs Mavericks pick: Lakers -5.5 (-110)
• Lakers vs Mavericks prop bet: Davis Over 25.5 points (-106)

The Doncic hype around this game is legit — as his stunning trade to LA is still a topic of discussion, and has forever changed the courses of two franchises, and perhaps the landscape of the Western Conference for years to come.

While Luka did post a triple double (19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists) in his first meeting against Dallas on February 25, a 107-99 win in LA, he struggled, shooting 6-for-17 from the floor, and just 1-for-7 from 3-point range.

Doncic’s numbers since joining the Lakers look similar to Dallas, as he’s putting up 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists, but doing it on a poor 42.1% shooting from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc.

In the midst of that, there’s a lot at stake for both teams Wednesday night. The Lakers are sit third in the West, and while they likely can’t catch Houston for the 2-seed, they want to stay above the logjam just beneath them, with the Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors and Grizzlies all within a 1.5 games of them.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, are on the verge of locking up the 10-seed and final play-in berth in the West, but it’s been a struggle of late, dropping three of their last four, including a 135-104 demolition at the hands of the Clippers, part of losing both ends of a 2-game set in LA.

It’s been a rough go for the Mavericks since dealing their former cornerstone, as they’ve gone 12-18 since, scoring just 112.8 points per game and allowing 119.9 against, but it’s hard to really gauge how Dallas has been doing sine they’ve been so injured.

Davis has only played seven total games, with Kyrie Irving done for the year, and both Gafford and Dereck Lively out for extended periods with injury.

The Lakers will be playing the second night of a back-to-back, but they’re one of the stronger teams in the league worth wagering on in that scenario, as they’ve gone 8-5-0 against the spread, tied for the fourth-best cover mark in the NBA.

Doncic, who was ejected in the fourth quarter against the Thunder, logged just 31 minutes, so he should be fresh for Wednesday.

Taking the built-in Doncic revenge factor into consideration, this one should be a big Lakers’ victory.