Lakers Host Injury-Hit Mavericks as Western Conference Gap Widens

By Harshit

LOS ANGELES, FEB. 12 2026 — A Western Conference matchup on Thursday night brings the Dallas Mavericks to Crypto.com Arena to face the Los Angeles Lakers, but circumstances around both teams have tilted expectations sharply toward the home side.

Dallas enters the game at 19–34, mired in an eight-game losing streak and dealing with significant injury setbacks. The Lakers, meanwhile, sit at 32–21, looking to halt a brief two-game slide and reassert control before the All-Star break.

Tipoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET in Los Angeles.

Mavericks Short-Handed Amid Losing Streak

The Mavericks’ situation has grown increasingly difficult. Rookie Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is sidelined with a foot injury and will not return until after the All-Star break. His absence has coincided with Dallas’ steep downturn.

Compounding the issue, Luka Dončić remains out with a hamstring injury, ruling out a highly anticipated matchup against his former team. Without Dončić, Dallas has struggled to generate consistent half-court offense and late-game execution.

Lakers Health Outlook: LeBron Back, Ayton Out

For Los Angeles, the injury picture is more balanced. LeBron James is not listed on the injury report after missing Tuesday’s game, a notable boost for a Lakers team that has won four straight against Dallas, including both meetings this season.

However, center Deandre Ayton remains out with a knee injury, thinning the Lakers’ interior rotation. Even so, Los Angeles continues to rely on perimeter scoring, pace, and transition offense to overwhelm opponents at home.

Betting Context and Trends

Oddsmakers have installed the Lakers as 6.5-point favorites, with a projected total of 237.5 points, reflecting Los Angeles’ offensive tendencies at Crypto.com Arena.

Key factual trends entering the game:

• The Lakers have won four consecutive games against Dallas
• Los Angeles owns the league’s best home Over record, with the total eclipsed in 17 of 24 home games
• Dallas has seen the Over hit in three straight games despite its losing streak

While the Lakers’ offense remains potent, their defense ranks in the lower third of the league in both field-goal percentage and three-point percentage allowed — a combination that has consistently pushed totals higher.

Matchup Outlook

With Dončić unavailable and Flagg sidelined, Dallas faces an uphill battle to keep pace offensively. Los Angeles, even without Ayton, holds clear advantages in depth, experience, and shot creation.

The Lakers’ recent losses have not been rooted in structural issues but rather execution lapses, and the return of LeBron James stabilizes both ends of the floor. Against a depleted Mavericks roster, Thursday’s game represents an opportunity to regain momentum before the All-Star pause.