Clippers vs Mavericks

Clippers vs Mavericks – NBA Odds & Picks

Written by on August 6, 2020

If the Los Angeles Clippers finish second in the Western Conference standings and the Dallas Mavericks seventh, both of which could easily happen, they would meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs. First, though, they play in the Orlando bubble on Thursday with the Clips as betting favorites.

Clippers vs Mavericks – NBA Odds & Picks

How to Bet Clippers vs. Mavericks NBA Odds & TV Info
  • When: Thursday, 6:30 PM ET
  • Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando
  • TV: TNT, NBA League Pass
  • Stream: TNT, NBA.com, NBA TV app
  • Radio: Tunein.com
  • NBA Odds: Clippers -3 (total 230.5)
Season Series

The Clippers lead the 2019-20 season series, 2-0, after they took the first two meetings in Dallas by scores of 114-99 and 110-107. The home team had won nine straight before the Clippers took the first two at American Airlines Center this year. The Mavericks had won four straight and 35 of the previous 46 showdowns in Dallas prior to dropping both at home to the Clippers this year. L.A. has gone 20-10 (.667) against the Mavericks since the start of the 2011-12 season.

Why Bet on LA Clippers?

The Clippers are 1-2 in the NBA restart after losing 117-115 to Phoenix on a Devin Booker buzzer-beater on Tuesday. Booker made a turnaround jumper over Paul George as time expired, capping a 35-point performance. It was the third time in his career he scored 30+ and hit a game-winning buzzer-beater. The only players with more such games are Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

Since Booker entered the NBA in 2015-16, he now has three game-winning buzzer-beaters, tied with LeBron James for most in the NBA (including playoffs). Booker also tied Walter Davis for the most game-winning buzzer-beaters in Suns history.

Kawhi Leonard hit 10-of-21 shots, and 5-of-5 free throws on his way to 27 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in 37 minutes of Tuesday’s loss. Leonard ranks tied for eighth in the NBA in ppg (26.8) and is tied for fifth in steals (1.8).

Ivica Zubac came through with 18 points, 12 rebounds and a block. Lou Williams finally returned from his quarantine absence on Tuesday and hit 3-of-8 shots for seven points, six rebounds and six assists in 21 minutes.  Point guard Patrick Beverley exited Tuesday’s game with some left calf soreness and did not return. Beverley tapped out after just eight minutes, finishing with four points and two rebounds, and Reggie Jackson replaced him in the starting unit after halftime. Since Dec. 1, Beverley ranks third in the NBA in 3PT FG% (46.4%).

Not clear if he will play here, but there’s no need to rush him. The Clippers are 10-1 this season when they enter a contest with no injuries to report. Overall this season, the Clippers have used 30 starting lineups which is the second-most different starting lineups in the NBA this season.

The Clippers are the only team in the NBA to have five players averaging at least 18.5 ppg (Leonard 26.8 ppg, Paul George 21.4 ppg, Montrezl Harrell 18.6 ppg, Williams 18.5 ppg).

Why Bet on Dallas?

The Mavs are 1-2 in the bubble following Tuesday’s 114-110 OT win over Sacramento. Luka Doncic finished with 34 Points, 20 rebounds and 12 Assists to become the first Mavs player to have a 30-Pt/20-Reb/10-Ast Triple-Double. He joined Sam Perkins and Dirk Nowitzki as the only other Mavericks in franchise history to record at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in a game.

Doncic also became the youngest player with a 30-point, 20-rebound triple-double in NBA history (21 years, 158 days old). Doncic punctuated the historic triple-double by making the tiebreaking shot with 1:57 left in overtime. Also, only 12 players in NBA history have recorded a 30-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist stat line, and Doncic and Denver’s Nikola Jokic are the only ones to do it this season.

Kristaps Porzingis added 22 points and seven rebounds before fouling out late in regulation. Dorian Finney-Smith posted a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double. The rebounds were a career high. Tim Hardaway was 6-of-14 from the field and tallied 22 points against the Kings. That included a 3-point field goal that gave Dallas a 98-97 lead to start overtime, and three free throws to knot the game at 102 a short time later.

Trey Burke saw 24 minutes off the bench, finishing with seven points and one steal. Burke was initially announced as the starter sans Seth Curry (leg), but in a last-minute change, Rick Carlisle decided to go with J.J. Barea, who finished with one point, one rebound, one assist and one steal over 14 minutes. Barea has made 593 3-pointers with Dallas and needs seven to become the seventh player in Mavericks history with 600-plus triples. Curry might play here.

The Mavericks lead the NBA in offensive rating this season (115.8), per NBA.com/Stats. They’re on pace for the most efficient offensive season in league history (the 2018-19 Warriors set the record with 115.0 points per 100 possessions).

Game Trends
  • Clippers are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
  • Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings “in” Dallas.
Expert Prediction
  • Clippers 116, Mavericks 113