The Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks game in the 2026 NBA Summer League is set to tip off at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 11, with the Mavericks entering as 1.5-point favorites on the spread and a 1.69x payout to win, via PrizePicks.
The Mavericks appear to have added another young star to their core after No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr.’s breakout Summer League opener on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Lakers will look to further evaluate first-round pick Cameron Carr, who had an impressive Summer League outing on Friday and could possibly contribute to the Western Conference squad in his rookie year.
Below, we'll break down our Lakers vs. Mavericks prediction and picks for Saturday's NBA Summer League game, including the spread, over/under, and key player picks for PrizePicks.
Make your Lakers vs. Mavericks prediction on PrizePicks for today’s game!
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Lakers vs. Mavericks Prediction, Spread, Over/Under – Saturday, July 11
After trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers, the Mavericks have been in a strange position with a relatively young core alongside veteran role players, but they lacked a true first option.
That all changed when Dallas selected last year’s Rookie of the Year, F Cooper Flagg, with the first overall pick in 2025. Flagg has catapulted the Mavericks' rebuild forward and, paired with more young talent, could possibly contend as early as the upcoming season.
The Mavericks may have found Flagg’s frontcourt mate for years to come in this year’s draft with Morez Johnson Jr. The former Michigan big man scored 27 points with 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in his first professional basketball action.
The two-man game with second-year guard Ryan Nembhard was elite down the stretch in the opener, despite the team falling just short of the Golden State Warriors. The Mavericks will look to bounce back in their second game at the Las Vegas Summer League later tonight.
Los Angeles’ roster has had a major overhaul this offseason and could be without the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, heading into the 2026 season. The Lakers will now look to surround Doncic and G Austin Reaves with competent role players as they pursue banner 18.
F Adou Thiero played sparingly under head coach JJ Redick in his rookie season and could be in for a bigger role heading into his sophomore year in the NBA. Thiero led all Lakers scorers with 20 points in their 96-84 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the opener.
The Lakers' No. 24 overall pick, Carr, had an efficient 18 points and appears to be a candidate for a "3 and D" type of player alongside LA’s stars.
The 21-year-old wing shot 40.7% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers in college and plays a role that every NBA team is looking for in today’s game. If Carr can continue to improve his offensive arsenal, the Lakers will certainly find a role for him in the upcoming season.
Lakers vs. Mavericks Spread, Over/Under – Saturday, July 11
The Mavericks enter Saturday’s game as 1.5-point favorites against the Lakers, returning a 1.85x payout if they win outright, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
Here are the full payouts for the Lakers vs. Mavericks game on PrizePicks.
- Spread: Mavericks -1.5 (1.88x payout)
- Over/Under: 179.5 (1.96x payout on Over)
- Game Winner Payout: Lakers 1.88x | Mavericks 1.85x
Make your Lakers vs. Mavericks prediction on the spread or over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks — available in 35 states!
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Lakers vs. Mavericks Expected Starting Lineups for Saturday, July 11
Let’s dive into the expected starting lineups for Lakers vs. Mavericks on Saturday, July 11. Lineups aren’t official and are based on recent playing time trends, injuries, schedule dynamics, and more.
Lakers Expected Starting Lineup vs. Mavericks
- PG: Chris Manon
- SG: Cameron Carr
- SF: Adou Thiero
- PF: Anton Watson
- C: Arthur Kaluma
Arthur Kaluma is expected to slide into the starting lineup after an 18-point, flawless-shooting display in his debut.
Mavericks Expected Starting Lineup vs. Lakers
- PG: Ryan Nembhard
- SG: Sergio De Larrea
- SF: John Poulakidas
- PF: Tobi Lawal
- C: Morez Johnson Jr.
Johnson Jr. could be in for another strong outing against an undersized Lakers squad.
Lakers vs. Mavericks Player Picks, Stats for PrizePicks – 7/11/26
Here are the top Lakers vs. Mavericks picks to target on PrizePicks for Saturday, July 11. Today’s NBA Summer League picks for PrizePicks include C Morez Johnson Jr. and F Adou Thiero.
Mavericks C Morez Johnson Jr. vs. Lakers: 17.5 Points
- Johnson Jr.’s Summer League 27-point debut could be a sign of what’s to come from the rookie center. The Mavericks’ big man is the clear focal point of the Summer League roster, taking 17 shots in his first game.
- The No. 9 overall pick averaged 13.1 PPG en route to a National Championship with Michigan last season. The 6’9" athletic big has always been extremely efficient around the hoop, shooting north of 60% in his final collegiate season.
- Johnson Jr.’s lack of an outside presence keeps the big man around the rim for second-chance points and lob attempts. Starting PG Nembhard and Johnson Jr. have already created chemistry in the pick-and-roll, with the second-year guard assisting the big man 5 times in the opener.
- The 21-year-old will face a Lakers squad that primarily utilized a small-ball lineup in last night’s opener. The Thunder’s starting frontcourt combined for 14 points and 17 rebounds against the Lakers’ bigs last night.
Add Morez Johnson Jr. to your PrizePicks Lineup now.
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Lakers F Adou Thiero vs. Mavericks: 20.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- Second-year man Thiero could be in for a breakout season with the Lakers. The defense-first swingman showed off his offense, leading the team with 20 points in the opener.
- Thiero showcased his exceptional rebounding qualities during his rookie season, utilizing his elite athleticism in his 6’8” frame to attack the glass. The 22-year-old had 4 rebounds in the opener but feels capable of more tonight. The former Arkansas star led his team in rebounding during his final collegiate season.
- The second-year man had the opportunity to handle the ball more than usual in the opener, showing improvements in his playmaking against the Thunder. His typical slashing style led to 4 assists last night, with many drive-and-kick opportunities throughout the game.
- Thiero finished with 28 PRA, playing the most minutes on the team in the opener. The Lakers will likely continue to give the second-year man an opportunity to showcase why he deserves more minutes this season, and Thiero has the tools to rack up massive box scores in the process.
Add Adou Thiero to your PrizePicks Lineup now.
Make Lakers vs. Mavericks Picks on PrizePicks
The Dallas Mavericks look to bounce back from their opening loss as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the final Summer League game of the evening. The Lakers hope to continue their perfect start in Las Vegas with another win as slight underdogs in tonight's game.
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