Mavs vs Lakers: Live Stream, Spread Info and Predictions

The Lakers are officially headed to the postseason, but there's nothing to celebrate yet. The only thing on their minds is getting in a good ol' practice round on Sunday against the Mavericks, whom they could very well be facing in the first round of this year's NBA playoffs.

And, this time around, the Lakers need all the practice they can get.

The Lakers may be the No. 3 seed in the West, but with one more regular-season game against the team that swept them out of the 2011 playoffs, the Lakers will be looking to prove the result won't be the same this time around, should the two teams face off again.

Both the Lakers and Mavericks enter this matchup on the heels of three-game winning streaks, but L.A. will be looking to make it four straight wins against the Mavericks this season. 

Where: Staples Center; Los Angeles

When: Sunday, April 15, 3:30 p.m. ET

Watch: Catch the game live on ABC, or watch the live stream online with NBA League Pass. 

Key Injuries

Mavericks:

Rodrigue Beaubois is day-to-day with a calf injury.

Lakers:

Kobe Bryant is day-to-day with a shin injury.

Christian Eyenga is out indefinitely with a foot ailment.

Head coach Mike Brown should be back for Sunday's game after leaving the Staples Center for undisclosed personal reasons 90 minutes before the Lakers' win over the Nuggets on Friday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

What They're Saying:

The one word that could describe the Mavericks' season thus far?

Inconsistent.

But Dallas is on an upswing since ridding itself of Lamar Odom and finally getting Jason Kidd healthy; the Mavs have won three in a row and five of their last eight.

The team has certainly stabilized a bit in light of Odom's departure and Kidd's resurgence. Guard Jason Terry told ESPNDallas.com's Jeff Caplan: 

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"'He's gone,' guard Jason Terry said of Odom on Tuesday night. 'But our biggest difference is that Jason Kidd is back. When you have your leader, your point guard, I think that's more what we're looking at with the feel of everything around here. With him out there on the court, it just makes everything run a lot smoother.'"

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Meanwhile, the Lakers are feeling good after clinching a playoff spot with a resounding win over Denver on Friday. Even with Bryant on the bench, the L.A. has won three of four, and in his absence, Matt Barnes and Andrew Bynum have stepped up big.

In Friday's game, Barnes had a season-high 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Bynum had 30 points and eight rebounds.

There's no need to rush Bryant back, either. The Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan writes: 

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"If the Lakers (38-22) keep winning, there's no need to push him into the lineup. They clinched a playoff berth Friday, and with six games left it will take a lot for the Clippers or Memphis to pass them for third place in the Western Conference. Even if the Lakers finish 3-3 down the stretch, the Clippers must go 6-1 and the Grizzlies must finish 8-0 to pass them. The Lakers own head-to-head tiebreakers against both teams."

 

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Lakers Player to Watch: Andrew Bynum, Center

With Bryant gone, the Lakers needed someone to step up in order to ensure L.A. wouldn't embark on an epic skid to end the season.

That player appears to be Bynum.

The center, who leads the team in rebounds and blocks, has registered double-doubles in three of the last four games. His best performance might have been against the Spurs on Wednesday, when he put forth a monster performance of 30 rebounds, 16 points and two blocks. 

Mavericks Player to Watch: Jason Kidd, PG

Kidd returned from a groin strain on Tuesday and played 22 minutes in a 110-100 win over Sacramento, tallying seven points, seven assists, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

Dallas has yet to lose since his return, and even though he didn't play against Portland on Friday night, Kidd doesn't look to be hampered by the recurring injury. His presence on the court for the rest of the season will be crucial for a team that plays with much more composure when he's around, and it all starts with Sunday's test.

Key Matchup: Pau Gasol vs. Dirk Nowitzki

The last time these two teams met on March 21 in Dallas, the Lakers came away with the 109-93 victory.

Gasol had a big scoring night, registering 27 points and nine rebounds. Nowitzki matched his effort with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but he'll need to do more if the Mavericks are going to win on the road.

Especially if Bryant doesn't play, eliminating Gasol's production would give the Mavericks a huge boost.

Prediction: Lakers 89, Mavericks 80

The Lakers are confident they can succeed without Kobe for the time being, and they are rolling after winning three straight and clinching a playoff berth. They won't lose on their home court to the team they know they will probably have to beat to advance in the postseason.

L.A. has beaten Dallas three of the last five times the two have played at the Staples Center, and the Lakers have beaten the Mavericks all three times the two have matched up this season. They'll make it four straight on their home court Sunday.