LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 11.5 Assists (-333)

Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing

As the Lakers head into Dallas, all eyes will be on LeBron James, but let's pump the brakes on his assist numbers for this matchup. Historically, against the Mavericks, LeBron has averaged just 7 assists, and when playing in Dallas, that dips to around 6. He's been a maestro on the court, but recent trends suggest he might not reach the lofty 11.5 mark we're targeting here. Over the last five games, he's only managed 7 assists on the road, and in fact, his overall assist rate in away games has been even lower. With a staggering 20-game away hit rate below this threshold, it stands to reason we should expect a similar performance in this game. Factor in the Mavericks' defensive schemes, and you can see why the under on his assists is a smart play.

LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 40.5 Points + Assists (-333)

Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing

As the Lakers head to Dallas, all eyes will be on LeBron James, but the smart money might actually be on the under for his combined points and assists at 40.5. Sure, LeBron has a storied history of stepping up, but recent performances hint at a different narrative. Averaging just 17 points and 7.4 assists over his last five games, his production is noticeably down, especially on the road where he's posting 15.8 points and 7 assists.Against a Mavericks team that has tightened its defense, LeBron's historical average of 20.6 points against them feels inflated given the current trend. He's hit the under in every away game for a staggering 20 consecutive times, and with the Lakers needing more from their supporting cast, it's reasonable to expect a modest performance from the King. Betting the under here could prove to be a savvy move.

Luke Kennard (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 22.5 Points + Assists (-312)

Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing

As the Lakers head into Dallas, all eyes will be on Luke Kennard, but the smart money might just be on the under for his combined points and assists at 22.5. His recent performances tell a compelling story-averaging just 8.2 points and 1.8 assists over the last five games. When he's suited up away from home, those numbers dip even further to 6.8 points and 1.4 assists. Against the Mavericks, he's only managed 8.6 points, with that number shrinking to 4.6 in Dallas. Factor in his overall hit rate of 20-for-20 in the last 20 games and 15-for-15 on the road, and it's clear that this matchup isn't favoring Kennard. With the Mavericks' defense tightening up, taking the under on his total feels like a wise play, especially given the implied probability of 75.8% backing it up.

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