Dallas Mavs vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview: Luka Doncic Hosts LeBron James in Injury-Riddled Matchup
The last time the Los Angeles Lakers were on an NBA court, they were winning the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament championship with a 123-109 final score over the Indiana Pacers.
In their first game off that quarter-season high, the Lakers now come to Dallas to face the Luka Doncic-led Mavericks, who will be playing on the second leg of a back back-to-back. On Monday night, the injury-plagued Mavs beat the Memphis Grizzlies 120-113 on the road at FedExForum.
The Mavs facing off against the Lakers is already fun as-is, but fans could be in for a possible way-too-early playoff preview as well, with the Dallas currently sitting in third-place in the West, and the Lakers sitting in sixth-place.
Fresh off winning the new NBA In-Season Tournament, Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers come to Dallas to face the injury-depleted Mavericks led by Luka Doncic.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The only thing holding back the anticipation for such a matchup is the injury reports. In addition to Kyrie Irving, Josh Green and Maxi Kleber being out, Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Derrick Jones Jr. are all listed as questionable for this one. For the Lakers, James and Anthony Davis are also listed as questionable.
With the assumption that Davis suits up to play, it will be rookie Dereck Lively II's second time matching up against the big man out of Kentucky, and with both of them being defensive-heavy players, it could get scrappy in the paint. Lively's first matchup against Davis was cut short when he injured his back in the third quarter of Dallas' 104-101 win on Nov. 22.
Here's everything else you need to know about the game:
Injury Report:
- Luka Doncic (QUESTIONABLE - Back)
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (QUESTIONABLE - Back)
- Derrick Jones Jr. (QUESTIONABLE - Quad)
- Kyrie Irving (OUT - Foot)
- Josh Green (OUT - Elbow)
- Maxi Kleber (OUT - Toe)
Los Angeles Lakers:
- Anthony Davis (QUESTIONABLE- Hip)
- Lebron James (QUESTIONABLE- Calf)
- Rui Hachimura (AVAILABLE- Nose)
- Jarred Vanderbilt (QUESTIONABLE- Back)
- Gabe Vincent (OUT- Knee)
- Jalen Hood-Schifino (OUT- Back)
- Maxwell Lewis (OUT- G-League Assignment)
Records: Dallas Mavericks (14-8), Los Angeles Lakers (14-9)
Where: American Airlines Center (Dallas, TX)
When: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 6:30 PM CT
TV: TNT
Radio: 97.1 The Freak
Odds: Lakers -1.5
Next Up: The Mavs host the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves in a matchup between two of the premiere guards in the conference, Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic.
Final Word: “They’re one of the tops teams in three-point production, top four or five in the corners and the wings," said head coach of the Grizzlies Taylor Jenkins. "He (Luka Doncic) does a great job finding the corners, great job finding the rolls. They have one of the top offenses no matter if they have a couple of different guys out, because he is going to be the lead engine.”
