The Mavericks will look to stop the bleeding tonight as they host the defending champion Lakers at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. This evening's clash between the two perennial stalwarts is scheduled to get underway at 9:00pm ET on ESPN. NBA Odds are favoring the visiting Lakers at -3 points against the spread and -150 on the moneyline. The Over/Under is presently set at 190.
Dallas was playing almost as well as any 
team in the league prior to Dirk Nowitzki injuring his knee against the Thunder on December 27th. The Mavericks, which also lost Caron Butler for the season on New Year's Day, owned a 24-5 record when the star forward went down, but they have hit the skids since.
Dallas lost seven of nine with Nowitzki out of the lineup and it is 0-2 since his return on January 15th. The Mavericks, which have played their last four games on the road, saw their current losing streak hit six games on Monday with a 103-89 loss to the Pistons. Nowitzki dropped in 32 points in the setback, but he was one of just two Dallas' players to score in double figures, the other being Jason Terry (18 points).
The prospect of the Mavs losing streak ending tonight seems unlikely. Dallas is 1-9 straight up and 2-8 against the spread in its last 10 games as a home dog against Los Angeles.
The Lakers also ride a wave of positive momentum into this evening's contest, having won eight of their last nine games. Kobe Bryant and company improved to 31-12 on Monday night with a 101-94 victory against the Thunder at the STAPLES Center.
Bryants and Pau Gasol combined for 42 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists in the win while Andrew Bynum posted his third double-double in the last four games (10 points, 10 rebounds).
Los Angeles owns an 11 game lead over the second place Suns in the Pacific Division, but it trails the Spurs by five games in the overall Western Conference standings. Dallas is presently fifth in the Western Conference and second in the Southwest Division; it trails San Antonio by 8.5 games in both areas.
NBA Odds Betting Trend: The Over is 8-2 in the Mavericks last 10 games as a home dog with a spread between 0 and 3.5 and total between 185 and 190.
Lakers vs Mavericks NBA Odds – January 19th, 2011:
Los Angeles Lakers -3 (-110), Over 190 (-110), -150 (Moneyline)
Dallas Mavericks +3 (-110), Under 190 (-110), +130 (Moneyline)
