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Dallas Mavericks v Los Angeles Lakers | NBA Betting Preview
Fireworks went off the last time the Lakers and Mavericks battled then exploded in a testy affair in which five players were ejected. Now the two adversaries will square off for the first time in the postseason during the Kobe Bryant/Dirk Nowitzki eras, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Monday in the City of Angles.
Date/Time: Monday, May 2, 10:35 PM ET
Venue: The Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Broadcast: TNT
Money Line: Dallas +235, Los Angeles -290
Spread: Los Angeles -6
Over/Under: 185 ½
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Kobe Bryant scored 28 points, and Andrew Bynum had 18 points and 13 rebounds in that one, as the Lakers rolled the Mavs, 110-82. The loss dropped Dallas to 13-2 against the Pacific Division, with both losses coming against the Lakers. However, they did win the first regular season meeting by nine points and will now look to even the score by taking at least one at the Staples Center in an effort to cancel out LA’s home court advantage.
There are many similarities between these two clubs. The two-time champions and the Mavericks finished with identical 57-25 records in the regular season, and each needed six games to navigate through their first round matchup.
Dallas advanced to the second round after eliminating the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, sweeping their three at home and closing on the road, while the Lakers lost their opener to the New Orleans Hornets, but took two of three on the road to close out Thursday night as well.
The Mavericks are a dangerous but vulnerable team, but so are the Lakers.
The Lakers were less than impressive in their first round tilt with the Hornets, but after giving New Orleans a little hope, clamped down in typical LA fashion and eliminated the Hornets with a 98-80 Game 6 thumping.
Kobe Bryant led the charge with 24 points, as he has now scored in double figures in 155 straight playoff games.
As for the Mavericks, their series with Portland was a seesaw battle in the beginning with each team taking their respective games on their home floor before Dallas broke through to win Game 6.
Dirk Nowitzki posted 33 points and 11 rebounds, as the Mavs halted an eight-game road playoff losing streak. Dallas had lost in the first round of the playoffs three of the previous four years.
Now the question is, can Mavericks’ head coach Rick Carlisle keep his team poised and focused entering Monday’s bout with the West’s heavyweights.
Things could get chippy quickly between the Lakers and Mavs as it did back on March 31 when Jason Terry shoved the Lakers’ Steve Blake to the ground after fouling him in the fourth quarter. Matt Barnes stepped in and pushed Terry and shoved aside Dallas assistant Terry Stotts, resulting in a one-game suspension.
Dallas and LA have met two times previously in the playoffs with the Lakers taking both sets, a 3-2 series win back in the 1985-86 West semifinals and a seven-game triumph in the 1987-88 West finals.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks have historically struggled in Los Angeles, compiling a wretched 11-53 all-time regular season record there.
If Dallas hopes to win the set, they will need keep their cool and use their length–three-seven footers –to match up with the Lakers.
The odds makers have the Los Angeles Lakers as a -6 point favorite with an over/under of 185.5.
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Matt’s Free Prediction: Lakers – There’s no other team that can do what the Lakers can do when they are clicking and have all of their guys engaged, and that’s what they’re doing right now.
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