Betting Lakers-Mavericks: Four props that stand out
All eyes will be on the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night as Luka Doncic plays his former team for the first time. Tipoff in Los Angeles is set for 10 p.m. ET.
While plenty of attention will be on how well Doncic plays against the team for whom he played the first 422 games of his career, this game also presents a variety of intriguing betting opportunities.
ESPN BET is offering an array of prop bets, and here are betting experts Andre Snellings and Eric Moody with some that they like most.
For the latest odds, visit ESPN BET Sportsbook.
LeBron James should let Doncic run the show as he faces his former team for the first time since the blockbuster deal. Doncic’s minutes were limited in his first two games with the Lakers after returning from a calf injury, but he has played 30-plus in his past two. When he’s played 35-plus minutes over the last two seasons, he’s averaged 34.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG, and 9.8 APG. I expect him to log heavy minutes and shine tonight against Dallas. — Moody
When Doncic is healthy locked in, he typically gets to the line. In his first 12 games of the season, before his first injury absences, he averaged 5.7 FT on 7.0 FTA. He returned for a six-game stretch in early December, averaging 5.5 FT on 7.5 FTA. On Saturday, in his fourth game with the Lakers, Doncic finally looked like himself and went 8-of-8 from the line. The Mavericks will likely use their bigger wings (e.g. Dante Exum, Max Christie, Naji Marshall) on Doncic to guard him more physically, which increases the likelihood that he’ll get to the line tonight. — Snellings
Doncic isn’t the only one with a revenge game narrative Christie, part of that blockbuster trade, has played surprisingly well for Dallas and logged 30-plus minutes in every game with the Mavericks so far. He’s also in a good spot against a Lakers team that struggles against spot-up shooters. — Moody
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Irving has been very aggressive as a scorer of late through all the Mavericks’ injuries. He managed only 17 points in a blowout in their last outing, but in the three games prior he had averaged 35.7 PPG with at least 30 in all three. In what has become a marquee matchup, facing a team featuring both of Irving’s most high-profile former teammates, I look for Irving to be assertive on offense and try to keep the Mavericks in the game. Plus, he will likely be defended by Austin Reaves or Doncic, neither of whom are plus defenders, which should give Kyrie the chance to get it going early. — Snellings
Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser reflect on Diana Taurasi’s career after she announced her retirement from basketball. (2:04)
Diana Taurasi, the leading scorer in WNBA history and voted “greatest of all time” by the league’s fans, announced her retirement Tuesday after 20 seasons.
“Mentally and physically, I’m just full,” Taurasi told Time magazine. “That’s probably the best way I can describe it. I’m full and I’m happy.”
Taurasi, 42, steps away as one of the most decorated players in basketball history. She made an impact from her first moments at UConn in 2000, and she was still in the spotlight through the end of her WNBA career, helping lead the Phoenix Mercury to the playoffs this past season.
In August, Taurasi became the first basketball player to win six Olympic gold medals.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert hailed Taurasi as “one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game of basketball on any stage.”
“In a record-setting career that saw her play 20 seasons, score more points and make more three-point shots than any player in WNBA history, she has earned the unquestioned respect of players around the globe, delivered electrifying moments and captivated fans again and again,” Engelbert said in a prepared statement. “On behalf of the WNBA family, I thank Diana for everything that she has brought to the WNBA — her passion, her charisma and, most of all, her relentless dedication to the game.”
Taurasi scored 10,646 points — the only WNBA player to surpass the 10K mark in scoring — in 565 regular-season games, and she scored another 1,476 points in 72 playoff contests. She led Phoenix, which drafted her No. 1 in 2004, to WNBA championships in 2007, 2009 and 2014.
A five-time WNBA scoring champion and 14-time All-WNBA selection, Taurasi was league MVP in 2009 and Finals MVP in 2009 and 2014. She also leaves as the WNBA’s leader in 3-pointers made with 1,447 in the regular season and 215 in the playoffs.
Josh Bartelstein, the chief executive officer of the Mercury and Phoenix Suns, called Taurasi “the face of the Mercury and women’s basketball for 20 years.”
“She revolutionized the game with her scoring ability, infectious personality and the edge she brought to the court every night,” Bartelstein said. “There will only ever be one Diana Taurasi, and she will continue to inspire us for years to come and remain part of the fabric of this city.”
Despite the personal records and achievements, Taurasi was considered the consummate teammate throughout her career.
“I’ve always tried to be on everyone’s side, and tried to champion everyone on the team,” Taurasi said. “If they’re in your circle, you take care of them.”
Sue Bird, Taurasi’s longtime friend and UConn/USA Basketball teammate, said to ESPN: “She has a way of making people feel connected to her, but also like the best version of themselves.”
WNBA
– 3-time champion
– 2004 Rookie of the Year
– 2009 WNBA MVP
– 2-time Finals MVP
– 5-time scoring champion
– 11-time All-Star
– 10-time All-WNBA 1st-team selection
USA National Team
– 6-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)
College: UConn (2001-04)
– 3-time national champion (2002, 2003, 2004)
New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello, who guided the Mercury for eight years, said Taurasi had what seemed like a sixth sense in dealing with teammates.
“She knows when she needs to take over; she knows when to get others involved,” Brondello said. “She knows when she just needs to whisper in their ear to get them going. When you see it up close and personal, you realize just the effect she has on her teammates, and they all look up to her.”
Taurasi first rose to national prominence at UConn two decades ago, leading the Huskies to three consecutive national titles from 2002 to 2004, including an undefeated season that many consider the greatest in women’s college hoops history.
In a prepared statement Tuesday, Huskies coach Geno Auriemma said that Taurasi “had as much to do with changing women’s basketball as anyone who’s ever played the game.”
“In my opinion, what the greats have in common is, they transcend the sport and become synonymous with the sport,” Auriemma said. “For as long as people talk about college basketball, WNBA basketball, Olympic basketball: Diana is the greatest winner in the history of basketball, period. I’ve had the pleasure of being around her for a lot of those moments, and she’s the greatest teammate I’ve ever coached. I’m happy for her and her family. At the same time, I’m sad that I’ll never get to see her play again, but I saw more than most.”
UConn went 22-1 in NCAA tournament games in Taurasi’s career, and she finished her collegiate career with 2,156 points, 628 rebounds and 648 assists. After being selected No. 1 by the Mercury, she won the first of her Olympic medals in 2004.
Her first WNBA championship with Phoenix came three years later.
After leading Phoenix to its second title, Taurasi was arrested for driving under the influence in July 2009. Shortly afterward, while she was playing overseas in Turkey, Taurasi received a provisional ban in late 2010 for alleged use of the stimulant modafinil, but the lab conducting the test was discredited, and Taurasi was cleared of all allegations in February 2011.
Taurasi and Bird became the cornerstones of USA Basketball for two decades. Along with her Olympic haul, Taurasi has three golds from the FIBA Women’s World Cup and won six EuroLeague titles.
“There never seems to be a bad day when you’re around Dee,” said Carol Callan, longtime USA Basketball women’s national team director. “She doesn’t seek the limelight, and she’s totally comfortable in her skin not needing it.”
Taurasi was voted by fans as the WNBA’s “GOAT” during the league’s 25th season in 2021.
“To me, she’s the greatest player,” said Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, who played and coached against Taurasi. “She just hooped. I think one of the most underrated parts of her game was her passing. Her 3-ball and pull-up jumpers got so much attention, but she literally does everything.
“It’s like when you talk about LeBron James. … Some people would knock on him when he would pass the ball, but it was the right decision. Great players, the GOATs, just make the right play. And they make it over and over and over again, and it leads to winning.”
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Luka Doncic to record a triple-double (+375)
Doncic over 4.5 total free throws made (-150)
Max Christie over 13.5 points and assists (-130)
Kyrie Irving over 26.5 points (-110)
Luka Doncic’s revenge game: Will he torch the Dallas Mavericks in his first matchup as a Los Angeles Laker? | Speak
Keyshawn Johnson, Paul Pierce, and Michael Irvin break down Luka Doncic’s highly anticipated revenge game as he faces the Dallas Mavericks for the first time as a Los Angeles Laker.
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Three Things to Know: Lakers vs. Mavericks, Feb. 25
The Lakers (34-21) blew out the Nuggets in Denver on Saturday, and return to Crypto.com Arena to face the Mavericks (31-27). The game tips at 7 p.m. on Spectrum SportsNet.
LUKA BREAKS OUT
In his first three games as a Lakers, Luka Doncic, who hadn’t played since Christmas, was primarily focused on fitting into the team, and trying to do his part to produce wins. He was on a minutes limit, and while showing flashes of his typical brilliance, didn’t have a statistical breakout. That changed in Denver, after JJ Redick told his former teammate he was looking for a “blackout” moment. He got it, as Doncic scored 16 points in the first quarter – matching his high in the previous three games – before finishing with a team-high 32 points, plus 10 boards, seven assists and four steals in a 123-100 victory. “Great confidence,” Doncic said he drew from the game. “I (can’t) remember when was the last time I won here. It’s very tough to play here. Just to win like that, it’s an amazing win for us and gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”
“Part of what makes him brilliant is he makes the game easy for everybody else,” added Redick.
Up next is a matchup that could be a difficult one from an emotional standpoint for Doncic, as he faces his former teammates in Dallas. Luka will certainly have the full support of his new team, and his new city.
SHOWING FINNEY-SMITH’S VALUE
Dorian Finney-Smith is about winning, more than anything else. He’s not thinking about his counting stats, which are as follows: 7.0 points, 3.3 boards and 1.3 assists in 25.8 minutes, not to mention his ranking of 17th in the NBA in 3-point accuracy, at 41.7%.
Of course, there are a few stats the show a player’s value outside of the counting stats, including raw plus/minus. In Doe Doe’s 20 games with the Lakers, he is a team-best +163, meaning the Lakers have outscored opponents by 163 points when he’s been on the court. That’s an average of +8.2 per game, ahead of Doncic’s +7.3 in four games, and Austin Reaves’ +2.9 in 50 games.
DFS gets the job done in multiple ways, serving as a quick connector and ball mover when he isn’t hitting 3’s or attacking closeouts on offense, and a versatile defender that can help on bigs in the paint and move his feet with wings and guards on the perimeter.
SHORTHANDED MAVS
Bitten by the injury bug particularly in the frontcourt, Dallas has gone five games without Anthony Davis and Derrick Lively (who’s been out since Jan. 14), and four games without those two plus Daniel Gafford, leaving them playing the smallest lineup in the league at the moment. Nonetheless, they’ve gone 3-2 in their last five games.
The Mavs beat Golden State, Miami and New Orleans, and lost to Sacramento and Golden State, most recently a 126-102 loss to the new-look Warriors on Sunday night.
Max Christie returns to Los Angeles after eight impressive games in Dallas, where he’s averaging 15.3 points on 50.0% FG’s and 43.6% from 3 in 32.6 minutes per game. He was trending towards that level of play before the trade, so it’s nothing new to the Lakers.
Due to all the injured bigs, the Mavs have been starting P.J. Washington, Kessler Edwards and Klay Thompson in the frontcourt, with Kyrie Irving and Dante Exum in the backcourt. They bring Christie, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy off the bench, with limited minutes for newly-signed 10-day player Moses Brown or former South Bay Lakers big man Kylor Kelley.
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