- The Los Angeles Lakers have -175 odds to beat the Dallas Mavericks in Cooper Flagg’s debut.
- Flagg has even odds to record at least eight rebounds in tonight’s game.
LAS VEGAS – The NBA 2K26 Summer League begins on Thursday and all eyes will be on the matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks at 8 PM EST, which will be live on ESPN.
Lakers vs Mavericks Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakers | -3.5 (-115) | -175 | O 177.5 (-110) |
| Mavericks | +3.5 (-105) | +150 | U 177.5 (-110) |
Legal sports betting sites favor the Lakers in tonight’s matchup by three and a half points over the Mavericks.
Here’s why bettors should pick the Lakers to cover the spread in their first game at -115 odds.
Veteran Roster
Los Angeles’ summer league roster will feature much more NBA experience than Dallas, with just eight rookies compared to the Mavericks’ 14. DJ Steward, Dairus Bazley, and Cole Swider each have 3+ years under their belt playing in the NBA, G-League, and Summer League.
They will also have Dalton Knecht and Bronny James return to Summer League for the beginning of their second seasons, both of whom got legitimate NBA minutes in stretches last season.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks have just two players on their roster who will not be making their summer league debut, former Laker Maxwell Lewis and second year Jordan Hall.
They do have some notable names from the NCAA level, including Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman, Miami’s Matthew Cleveland, and of course the #1 overall draft selection in Cooper Flagg.
However, history is not on Flagg’s side, as just two of the last five first overall picks to have played in Summer League won their debut.
Cooper Flagg Bonus Bet
Though Flagg’s debut is highly anticipated in NBA circles, the betting market is limited due to the unpredictability of the transition to the professional level.
However, Bovada is offering odds on points, rebounds, and assists milestones for Flagg rather than setting a line.
The best bet of these milestones is for Flagg to record 8+ rebounds in tonight’s game at even odds. Flagg averaged 7.5 rebounds per game in about 30 minutes played during his college tenure, but there are a few reasons why it could have been higher.
Firstly, he often shared the court with 10th overall pick Khaman Maluach, who averaged 6.6 rebounds per game in just over 20 minutes played per game. The 7’2” big man had a total rebound percentage of 18% compared to Flagg’s 14.1%, making it difficult for Flagg to add to his totals.
However, on this Mavericks roster, there are only two players taller than Flagg, who is listed at 6’9”, meaning he shouldn’t have much competition amongst his own team for rebounds and could even see minutes at the five.
Additionally, the Lakers roster only has two players listed taller than Flagg. Overall, both teams lack size, meaning there should be plenty of rebounds available.
Bet Flagg to record over eight rebounds in his debut and reap the rewards at NBA betting sites.
