Game 5 of the best of 7 series between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers will take place on Wednesday. This game is held in Los Angeles, where the two teams split the first two games of the series. The Clippers won the first game, but then Dallas came back with back to back wins. Los Angeles tied the series on Sunday.
The Mavericks lost their final two games of the regular season, and finished a second game behind the Clippers in the West. Dallas went 50-32 on the season. The Mavericks are back in the postseason after falling short a season ago by going on a big time losing streak.
For Los Angeles, they also struggled down the stretch. The Clippers lost their last three games of the regular season. Los Angeles ended up with a 51-31 record, sitting behind the Thunder, Nuggets and Timberwolves.
The Dallas Mavericks are -2.5 on the road in this game. The total for this affair is set at 209.5.
Oh So Close for Dallas
Dallas was so close to leaving town with a 3-1 series lead. The Mavericks got down big early, and rallied back, only to lose by five. Kyrie Irving was the man in the loss. The guard scored 40 points and dished out 5 assists. Irving played 44 minutes in the game. So far in the postseason, he has scored 31, 23, 21 and 40.
Luka Doncic added 31 points in the loss. Luka was the leading scorer in the regular season. The guard has gone 14 straight games with 20+ points. In the postseason, Doncic has scored 33, 32, 22 and 29. He has had double digit rebounding games in three of the four as well.
The winner of this series will face the top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder made quick and easy work of the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round. Dallas lost at Oklahoma City in the final game of the regular season by 49 points.
Clippers Looking to Take Series Lead
The Los Angeles Clippers are looking to get back ahead in the series. After going on the road to Dallas and winning a game, now, the Clippers are home and looking to be back ahead. Los Angeles scored 116 in the win on Sunday. Paul George and James Harden were both elite, with 33 points. Harden did it on 12 of 17 shooting.
Los Angeles was without Kawhi Leonard, and they are now 2-0 without him in the postseason. Leonard has right knee inflammation, and is questionable for this game. On the season, he played in 68 games, and scored 23.7 points per game.
The Clippers during the regular season scored nearly 116 points per game. That ranked just outside the Top 10. Los Angeles made nearly 49% from the field, and 38% from downtown. Los Angeles is scoring 112.5 points per game in their two wins, and 91.5 in the two postseason losses.
Clippers Top Mavericks
The Clippers are back home, and have a chance to go up in the series here. The Mavericks are going to be a little salty after losing at home. Look for a great game from both teams. But, in the end, we are going to take the home team.
Taking the home underdog seems to be the right bet for this game. Our final bet for this game is the Los Angeles Clippers +110 on the moneyline over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
