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The injury-plagued Los Angeles Lakers limp into American Airlines Center tonight as Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks look to snap a three-game skid.
Flagg is fresh off the best scoring performance of his career, and my Lakers vs Mavericks predictions expect another electric scoring performance from the ascending star.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this NBA Western Conference matchup on Sunday, April 5.
Lakers vs Mavericks prediction
Lakers vs Mavericks best bet: Cooper Flagg Over 23.5 points (-110)
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points when he dropped 51 against the Orlando Magic on Friday. He’s got major momentum heading into Sunday’s tilt with the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers.
Flagg has gone for 24+ points in just 21 of 65 games, but his scoring has soared to new heights as of late. Over his first 43 games of the season, Flagg averaged just 18.8 points. Since his last meeting with the Lakers, Flagg has averaged 24.6 points in 22 games, clearing this scoring line 11 times.
The NBA Rookie of the Year favorite has averaged a healthy 27.3 points across his last six games, going for 24+ four times. He’s been excellent at home, averaging 30.9 and scoring 24+ six times across his last nine outings at American Airlines Center.
Over his last 16 games, Flagg has bumped up his shot attempts to 18.8 per game, giving him ample opportunities to rack up points and hit the Over on his points prop. The matchup with LA isn’t a scary one, as the Lakers’ 116.5 defensive rating on the road is the 11th-worst mark in the Association.
Dallas can capitalize in a favorable spot with the vulnerable Lakers, and I expect Flagg to go for 24+ with ease.
Lakers vs Mavericks same-game parlay
The Lakers will be missing their two top scorers, two of their top four rebounders, and two of their top three facilitators. Filling in for Austin Reaves and especially Luka Doncic will be a monumental task for the Lakers, and the team doesn’t have the role players to do it.
At this stage of his career, LeBron James can’t carry this roster, and I’ll bet on a hungry Mavericks team with the Rookie of the Year favorite to win this one outright in front of the home crowd.
The loss of Doncic and Reaves leaves 13.8 assists up for grabs, and James should find the ball in his hands more often than not. He’ll be asked to run the show, and double-digit assists are certainly doable, particularly in a game that should feature plenty of offense.
Lakers vs Mavericks SGP
- Cooper Flagg Over 23.5 points
- Mavericks moneyline
- LeBron James Over 9.5 assists
Our “from downtown” SGP: James Gang!
I’m excited to see the NBA’s most famous father-son duo share the court for an expanded time on Sunday. With Reaves and Doncic out of action, J.J. Redick will need to go further down the bench, and that’s where Bronny James comes in.
In seven games with at least 15 minutes played, he’s averaged 6.3 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Bronny scored 6+ four times and posted at least two boards or three assists three times in those contests.
The elder James will need to be heavily involved in Los Angeles’ offense for the team to stay competitive. He’s averaged 7.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists in three games against the Mavericks this season, and he’s posted at least eight boards or 10 assists in a quarter of his 56 appearances.
Lakers vs Mavericks SGP
- LeBron James Over 7.5 rebounds
- LeBron James Over 9.5 assists
- Bronny James Over 5.5 points
- Bronny James Over 1.5 rebounds
- Bronny James Over 2.5 assists
Lakers vs Mavericks odds
- Spread: Lakers -1.5 | Mavericks +1.5
- Moneyline: Lakers -125 | Mavericks +105
- Over/Under: Over 232.5 | Under 232.5
Lakers vs Mavericks betting trend to know
The Dallas Mavericks have hit the 1Q Game Total Over in 34 of their last 50 games (+17.60 Units / 30% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Mavericks.
How to watch Lakers vs Mavericks
| Location | American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX |
| Date | Sunday, April 5, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC |
Lakers vs Mavericks latest injuries
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