Sports Betting Picks

Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview

The Luka Doncic show continues for the Dallas Mavericks, and virtually every NBA fan who’s not supporting the Los Angeles Clippers is hopping on the bandwagon. Doncic knocked down the most clutch shot of the 2020 NBA Playoffs, and while the latter part of the season and start of the playoffs hasn’t felt quite like a normal year, the Mavs star sent the internet into a frenzy.

Following Doncic’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer over Reggie Jackson, the Mavericks grabbed momentum and evened their first-round playoff series at 2-2 with a crucial Game 5 looming on Tuesday night. One of the biggest factors at play is that this would be a home game for the Clippers if it were a normal postseason, but with games being played in the NBA bubble at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, it’s essentially removed home-court advantage from the equation.

We’re going to take a look at the Mavericks vs. Clippers betting line, odds and prediction heading into Tuesday’s matchup, while also evaluating a few key factors in the matchup.

Luka Doncic Dominance & Kristaps Porzingis Injury

Doncic, the Mavericks’ 21-year-old star, has been exceptional all year, but specifically in this matchup against the Clippers. Through four games, he’s averaging 31.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 9.8 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the field. And if not for Game 3 when he shot just 4-14 from the field, his percentage would also be drastically higher.

Regardless, Doncic has scored 42 or more points in two of the four games, and in the 135-133 overtime win on Sunday night, he scored 43 points while tacking on 17 rebounds and 13 assists with teammate Kristaps Porzingis sidelined due to a sore right knee.

Porzingis’s status ahead of Tuesday’s game will be pivotal, but while he’s questionable for the game, the knee injury he’s bothered by doesn’t appear serious. His status will be worth monitoring, and if Porzingis is able to play, it will be a big boost to the Mavericks’ chances to grab a pivotal victory and jump out to a 3-2 series lead.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers Betting Line, Odds & Prediction

Betting line: Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers (-6.5 at -110)

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

While there’s an easy case to be made that the Clippers will rebound here and pick up a victory on Tuesday, apparent concerns are looming. Specifically, the struggles offensively that star forward Paul George is dealing with have been well-documented.

George scored just nine points on 3-14 shooting (1-7 from 3-point range) in the Clippers’ overtime loss. He also tallied only 11 and 14 points in the two games prior.

Kawhi Leonard has done the bulk of the heavy lifting while getting production from various players in recent games, but the Clippers star has been exceptional. He’s also been as reliable and consistent as ever, averaging 33 points, ten rebounds, and five assists while shooting 49.9 percent from the field through the first four playoff games.

Betting Game 5 between the Mavericks and Clippers could depend heavily on whether Porzingis plays and how George looks on the offensive end. Both Doncic and Leonard are going to find success in some fashion, and with how these first four games have played out, I think we see the Mavericks either push their opponent and keep it close to the finish or pull off the upset.

I’ll take the points with Doncic and company.

Pick: Dallas Mavericks +6.5 at -110

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *