LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 41.5 Points + Assists (-345)

Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing

As the Lakers gear up to face the Mavericks, LeBron James finds himself in a position that might not favor his usual scoring and facilitating prowess. Over his last five games, he's averaged just 17 points and 7.4 assists-numbers that suggest he's not quite in the groove we've come to expect. Particularly on the road, his scoring dips further, with averages of 15.8 points and 7 assists, not quite the offensive juggernaut we often associate with King James.Historically, against Dallas, he's managed around 20.6 points and 7 assists, but those figures are skewed by his home games. When playing away, that average climbs to 26.4 points, but given the Mavericks' defensive schemes, which have limited his effectiveness, it's reasonable to believe he'll fall short of the hefty 41.5 mark for combined points and assists. Betting the under seems to be a savvy play here.

LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 11.5 Assists (-312)

Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing

As the Lakers gear up to face the Mavericks, all eyes are on LeBron James-and we're leaning towards the under on his assists at 11.5. Sure, LeBron is a playmaker, but the numbers tell a compelling story. Over the past five games, he's averaged just 7.4 assists overall and even lower at 7 in away matchups. When it comes to Dallas, he's managed only 6 assists per game in their last five encounters on the road. With the Mavericks' defense tightening up and LeBron's recent form indicating a drop-off in assist production-he's hitting this over just once in his last 20 away games-we like this bet. The implied probability of 75.8% speaks volumes, and with a solid expected stat value of 7.05, it's hard to ignore the trend. So, let's take advantage of these insights and back the under on LeBron's assists in this matchup.

Luke Kennard (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 23.5 Points + Assists (-357)

Odds available at fanduel at time of publishing

Looking at Luke Kennard's recent performances, it's clear that he's not exactly lighting up the scoreboard, especially when playing away. Averaging just 6.8 points and 1.4 assists on the road over his last five games, he simply hasn't been able to find his rhythm. Against the Mavericks, even his historical output dips-he's only managed 4.6 points per game in their past matchups away from home. The Mavericks will likely focus on shutting down Kennard, and with his average of 8.2 points and 1.8 assists overall in that stretch, it's hard to see him eclipsing the 23.5 mark. With an impressive 20-for-20 hit rate on the under in his last 20 games, the odds are heavily in our favor. It feels like a safe play to take the under on Kennard's points and assists in this matchup.

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