Published on: November 11, 2025, 02:46 AM.

Updated on: November 11, 2025, 02:47 AM.

• LeBron James cleared for contact practices with the Lakers
• High-stakes wager placed on Patriots for Super Bowl victory
• Islam Makhachev favored to capture the welterweight title at UFC 322 this Saturday

Today’s major sports headline features the Dallas Mavericks parting ways with general manager Nico Harrison, the same GM responsible for trading basketball star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers during the last season.

Harrison struggled to recover from that trade, initially facing backlash from fans and eventually from the higher-ups, including team governor Patrick Dumont. As noted by ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith today, Doncic is currently averaging an impressive 37.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game (MVP-level stats), contributing significantly to the Lakers’ success (8-3). Meanwhile, Anthony Davis, a key figure in the trade for the Mavs, is sidelined once again due to injury.

Smith emphasized that Davis needed to deliver top-tier performances with the Mavericks to justify the trade, but that hasn’t been the case. The Mavs are currently struggling, sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference with a dismal 3-8 record.

NBA: Lakers’ Championship Odds After LeBron’s Update

Austin Reaves is making his mark with the Lakers as well, averaging 30.3 points and 9.3 assists over eight games, with shooting percentages of 48.0% from the field and 32.4% from beyond the arc. Who could have guessed that James would become an extra piece in such a talented roster? On Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that James has been cleared for contact basketball activities, bringing him closer to a return to the court after dealing with back issues.

“We’re all excited for him to come back. It’s LeBron, so it’s always a good thing,” Doncic stated to reporters during last night’s post-game interview in Charlotte.

What is the current outlook for the Mavericks and the Lakers from sportsbook analysts? It’s worth noting that Doncic has already missed four games, while Reaves has been sidelined for two, yet the Lakers are still positioned as the fourth-best team in the Western Conference.

“There hasn’t been much change in the Mavericks’ odds following the GM’s firing. It’s tough to predict if this will have a positive or negative impact on their performance,” remarked David Lieberman, Lead Pro Basketball Trader at Caesars Sportsbook. “Perhaps the atmosphere at home may become slightly less toxic. However, the team has significant flaws, and even with a healthy Davis, their point guard situation remains their biggest challenge at the moment.”

“I believe the Lakers’ odds already reflect LeBron’s anticipated return, but if he comes back and performs at full strength, we might see a decrease in odds given their strong start without him.”

Currently, Caesars Sportsbook has the Lakers set at +1100 to clinch the championship, while the Mavericks are at +8000.

NFL: $30K Bet on Patriots Super Bowl Championship

A daring bettor placed $30,000 on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl (+2200), aiming for a potential payout of $660,000, clearly impressed by the MVP-caliber performance of QB Drake Maye. Maye ranks third among NFL quarterbacks with 2,555 passing yards, tied for third with 19 touchdown passes, and stands third in completion percentage at 71.7%. The Patriots (8-2) have surpassed the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East, now leading by a full two-game margin.

“The betting market has seen a shift, shortening the Patriots’ Super Bowl odds from +12500 to +2000 during their 7-game winning streak. Despite a rise in betting action on New England, the Patriots winning it all would yield favorable results for sportsbooks,” stated Christian Cipollini, Senior Trading Manager at BetMGM.

Noteworthy changes in Super Bowl odds this season, where a few initial favorites, such as the Bills, have faltered, include the Chiefs moving from +750 to +550, the Seahawks from +6000 to +1000, and the Colts from +10000 to +1100.

Don’t Miss UFC 322 This Weekend

This weekend’s UFC 322 event promises to be exceptional. Scheduled for Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York, the preliminary fights kick off at 8 p.m. EST, followed by the main pay-per-view card at 10 p.m. EST.

Jack Della Maddalena will defend his welterweight title against Islam Makhachev, while Valentina Shevchenko faces Zhang Weili in a highly-anticipated women’s flyweight title bout.

After a controversial UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi—which saw a much-anticipated heavyweight title match end in a no-contest due to an eye poke—UFC is seeking a standout event. Fans expressed their frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding champion Tom Aspinall’s injury.

Makhachev enters as the favored challenger, listed at -265 on the DraftKings moneyline, with Maddalena sitting at +215. In the women’s bout, Shevchenko holds a slight edge at -125, while Weili is at +105.