Larry Ness’ Lakers vs Mavericks NBA Free Pick April 22, 2021

Published April 22, 2021 in Featured Free Picks

Larry Ness' Lakers vs Mavericks Free Pick

Start Time: April 22 2021, 9:40 PM

The 35-23 Lakers expect to have Anthony Davis back on Thursday night when they visit Dallas to take on the 31-26 Mavericks. However, LBJ is still a couple of weeks away from returning, according to a recent report by ESPN. The Lakers have gone 14-16 without A.D. (22.5 & 8.2)and are 7-9 without him and LBJ (25.4-7.9-7.9). LA has fallen to the No. 5 seed in the West, 8 1/2-games back of the Jazz (No. 1 seed). Denver owns the No. 4 seed (final seed to get the home court edge in the first round) and LA would sure like to catch them but the Nuggets do own a three-game edge. The Mavs own the No. 7 and would like to avoid the “Play-In” tournament (seeds 7-10) and have closed to within a half-game of the No. 6 Blazers, who have lost SEVEN of nine.

PG Schroder (15.4-3.5-5.5) and PG Harrell (13.9 & 6.6) have been excellent additions this season, while SF Kuzma (12.9 & 6.50 remains an underrated talent. LA acquired center Drummond from Cleveland at the end of March and in his six April games, he has averaged 12.8 & 10.2 in 26 minutes. How he’ll mesh with A.D. and LBJ when they are both back, is to be determined.

Dallas has NOT had the kind of season expected of them, as their 127-117 win over the Detroit Pistons last night snapped a four-game home losing streak! Doncic (28.6-8.0-8.7) has led Dallas all season and last night just missed a triple-double (30-10-9). Kristaps Porzingis (20.4 & 9.3) has been  an excellent ‘side-kick’ to Doncic all season and had 19 points and seven rebounds in Wednesday’s win. Three other players are averaging double digits for Dallas in SF Hardaway (15.8), plus guards Brunson (12.9-3.6-3.5) and Richardson (12.2).

Will A.D. definitely play? We don’t know that for sure and if he does, how effective will he be? I believe this is an excellent spot for Dallas but the Mavs have underachieved all season at home, going just 14-14 SU, as well as a money-burning 10-18 ATS. I’m make a small play on Dallas.

Good luck…Larry

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