Looking for Lakers vs Mavericks props tonight? You’re in the right place!
While preseason games typically mean nothing, this one carries serious implications for Dallas as their final dress rehearsal, while LA treats it as a back-to-back rest spot.
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Lakers vs Mavericks Props – Wednesday, October 15
The Lakers limp into Vegas at 1-3 in preseason and are playing their second game in two nights after losing to Phoenix 113-104 on Tuesday. The back-to-back situation changes everything. LA has scheduled six total preseason games, and this marks their fifth.
Dallas enters at 2-1 in the preseason and is treating this finale completely differently from the Lakers.
Coach Jason Kidd already confirmed he’s extending minutes for his starters, potentially into the fourth quarter, which is wild for a preseason finale but makes sense given their circumstances.
Lakers Preview
On Tuesday in Phoenix, the Lakers played Luka Doncic (22 minutes), Austin Reaves (31 minutes), Deandre Ayton (26 minutes), Jake LaRavia (34 minutes), Marcus Smart (20 minutes), Dalton Knecht (19 minutes), and Bronny James (22 minutes). Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and Jaxson Hayes all sat out completely.
The rotation will flip tonight. Redick has been liberal with rest all preseason, and there’s zero incentive to play the same guys back-to-back in meaningless games. Expect the four players who got Tuesday off to handle the bulk of minutes, while everyone who logged 19-plus minutes sits.
The Lakers’ offensive system under Redick emphasizes constant ball movement, improved shot profile, and more three-point attempts. His defensive scheme centers on 1-through-4 switching, though execution has been inconsistent.
The bigger question is whether any of that matters tonight when the rotation guys who’ve been learning the system will probably be sitting. For anyone considering Lakers vs Mavericks props, the Lakers’ rotation flip makes most of their star-driven props essentially unplayable.
What we’ll probably see tonight: Rui Hachimura leading the frontcourt after sitting Tuesday. Jarred Vanderbilt getting an extended run at the wing. Gabe Vincent is handling point guard duties with fresh legs. Jaxson Hayes is providing rim protection.
These four got complete rest on Tuesday and should carry 25-30 minutes each. The deep bench guys who saw limited action Tuesday might get some garbage time, but the rotation will center around the fresh quartet.
Bottom line—this is a punt game for LA. They’ve got one more preseason contest after this to fine-tune things before opening night against Golden State on October 21.
Mavericks Preview
The Mavericks desperately need this game to figure out what’s next. With Kyrie Irving out until at least January, recovering from his March ACL tear, Dallas hasn’t had much time to build chemistry with their revamped rotation.
They open the regular season against San Antonio in just six days, making this their last opportunity to establish rhythm and defensive identity.
The jumbo lineup experiment has been fascinating—Flagg-Thompson-Washington-Lively-Davis gives them absurd size and defensive versatility. That’s three guys 6’10” or taller protecting the rim, with elite length across the board.
Anthony Davis has been excellent through three games, and his 25 points in 25 minutes against Utah on Monday showed he’s completely comfortable in Dallas’s system.
Kidd plans to ramp up his minutes to 25-30+ tonight, viewing this as part of his preparation process before the regular season. If there’s one Lakers vs Mavericks props play that makes sense tonight, it’s anything involving Davis’s production, given his expected extended minutes against LA’s backup frontcourt.
Cooper Flagg is the real story. The No. 1 overall pick had 11 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and two steals against Utah. His poise has been remarkable for a teenager learning the NBA game on the fly.
Ryan Nembhard, the undrafted rookie, has looked solid in his opportunities and might be carving out a legitimate backup point guard role. With Irving out and no established veteran behind Flagg, his development matters more than anyone expected.
The Mavericks are treating this as a dress rehearsal. Expect their rotation players to log extended minutes and execute their schemes like it matters.
That creates a pretty big competitive imbalance against LA’s backups—guys like Hachimura and Vanderbilt who are solid pros, but not the Lakers’ starting lineup that includes Luka and Reaves.
Lakers vs Mavericks Injuries
DALLAS MAVERICKS:
- Kyrie Irving (OUT) – Torn left ACL (March 3), targeting January 2026 return. Irving underwent surgery March 27 and is on schedule in his rehab but won’t be available for months. Jason Kidd refuted reports that Irving is ahead of schedule at Media Day.
- Daniel Gafford (OUT) – Ankle sprain, out until at least October 22. Injured in practice on October 2.
- Dante Exum (OUT) – Knee injury, hasn’t played any preseason games.
- Brandon Williams (OUT) – Hamstring injury, sidelined for preseason.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS:
- LeBron James (OUT) – Sciatica (pinched nerve on right side), out 3-4 weeks. Will miss opening night for the first time in his 23-year career. Expected to be re-evaluated in early November.
- Adou Thiero (OUT) – Knee swelling, out until at least October 31 with re-evaluation in 2-3 weeks. Hasn’t played any preseason games.
- Maxi Kleber (OUT) – Quad injury from October 2 practice, out until at least October 21.
- Chris Manon (OUT) – Ankle issue, limited in practice.
The injury situations tell the story here. Dallas is dealing with long-term absences but has their core rotation healthy.
The Lakers’ biggest issue is LeBron being out 3-4 weeks, which puts enormous pressure on Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves when the regular season starts.
For tonight, neither team’s injury report matters much—it’s all about rotation management and rest.
Who’s Expected to Play Tonight
The Mavericks will deploy their complete healthy roster with extended minutes since this is their preseason finale and final preparation before opening night.
Dallas Mavericks:
- PG: Cooper Flagg – The #1 pick gets another dress rehearsal
- SG: Klay Thompson – Extended run to build chemistry
- SF/PF: P.J. Washington – Should be fully healthy after hip issues
- PF/C: Anthony Davis – 25-30+ minutes, possibly more
- C: Dereck Lively II – Splitting time with the starting group
- Ryan Nembhard (backup PG getting extended look)
- Naji Marshall (if available)
Los Angeles Lakers:
- Rui Hachimura (F) – Fresh legs, should get 25-30 minutes
- Jarred Vanderbilt (SF) – Fresh, defensive wing work
- Gabe Vincent (PG) – Rested Tuesday, will run the point
- Jaxson Hayes (C) – Fresh, rim protection minutes
Lakers vs Mavericks Props Tonight
Right now, you can find two Dallas superstars listed at Underdog Fantasy.
Anthony Davis gets the revenge game narrative against what is expected to be some bench players and younger prospects getting extended minutes for the Lakers.
Cooper Flagg has a 22.5 PRA projection, which has been about on par with his preseason performance.
Lakers vs Mavericks Props Pick: Anthony Davis Higher than 18.5 Points
