Doncic Out as Lakers Seek Win vs. Struggling Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference battle on Thursday. The Mavericks have struggled significantly, currently on an eight-game losing streak and dealing with the absence of their top draft pick, Cooper Flagg, due to injury. Adding to their woes, star player Luka Doncic is out with a hamstring issue and will not play against his former team.

The Lakers, who have won the last four matchups against Dallas including two this season, are projected to be 6.5-point favorites. Deandre Ayton is also sidelined for the Mavericks. Despite recent back-to-back losses, LeBron James is expected to play for the Lakers. The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts the total score to exceed 237.5 points, citing the Lakers' strong home performance for exceeding point totals and the Mavericks' recent trend of high-scoring games.

This prediction is based on simulations where the model anticipates both teams will have multiple players scoring in double figures. The model also suggests that one side of the spread will hit over 60% of the time. The Lakers' defensive statistics, allowing opponents to shoot well from the field and from three-point range, contribute to the likelihood of the total score going over.