PREVIEW: The Lakers head to Dallas on Easter Sunday to face the Mavericks , bringing a battle between a team fighting for playoff positioning and a squad that has effectively been eliminated from contention. Los Angeles arrives as an efficient attacking team, ranking first in rim attacks and free throw rate, though they sit 24th in free throw shooting at 76.7 percent. The Lakers arrive without two of their best players, as both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. LeBron James will carry much of the offensive load, scoring 20.6 points per game and averaging 6.0 rebounds . Dallas presents a contrasting defensive profile that could either exploit the Lakers' missing pieces or crumble under the weight of their own injuries. The Mavericks rank poorly defensively, allowing lots of shots attacking the rim and ranking 26th in rim defense , creating potential opportunities for a Lakers team that specializes in that exact attack. Rookie Cooper Flagg has been the silver lining for Dallas, dropping a historic 51-point performance recently and averaging a team-high 20.8 points per game. The Mavericks have dropped eight of their last nine games, including their last three straight , suggesting momentum will be difficult to generate against a visiting team with deep playoff aspirations.