The Los Angeles Lakers travel to the American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, January 24, with tipoff at 8:30 PM ET. Los Angeles holds a 26-17 record while Dallas sits at 19-26, making injuries a pivotal factor in the matchup.
The Lakers are without Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain), forcing LeBron James and Luka Doncic to carry the offensive load. Doncic leads Los Angeles with 33.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game, while James contributes 22.5 points and 6.9 assists.
Rui Hachimura adds 12 points per game on 50.2 percent shooting, and Deandre Ayton provides 13.7 points and 8.7 rebounds, anchoring the frontcourt. Bench players like Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart will be key in absorbing minutes lost to Reaves’ absence.
Dallas faces a long injury list, including Anthony Davis (left finger sprain), Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Dante Exum (right knee surgery), and Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery). Daniel Gafford and Ryan Nembhard are probable, while Moussa Cisse is doubtful, limiting depth.
Cooper Flagg leads the Mavericks with 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, while P.J. Washington adds 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds. Klay Thompson provides 11.9 points per game, and Max Christie contributes 13 points with 45.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles enters on a one-game losing streak after a 104-112 defeat to the Clippers, while Dallas rides a four-game winning streak, including a 123-115 victory over Golden State.
The first matchup this season saw the Lakers defeat Dallas 129-119 on November 28, 2025.
