The Dallas Mavericks (0-2) play the Los Angeles Clippers (2-0) Sunday in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference first-round series at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Staples Center. Below, we analyze the Mavericks-Clippers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Mavericks at Clippers: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:00 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Mavericks +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Clippers -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Mavericks +4.5 (-105) | Clippers -4.5 (-115)
- Over/Under: 228.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Mavericks at Clippers: Key Injuries
Mavericks
- PF Kristaps Porzingis (knee) out
Clippers
- SF Kawhi Leonard (mouth) questionable
- PF Marcus Morris (knee) out
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Mavericks at Clippers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Mavericks 119, Clippers 114
Money line (ML)
Dallas fell to 0-2 after getting rolled by the Los Angeles Lakers 138-115 on Christmas. Preseason MVP favorite Luka Doncic had a strong performance – putting up 27 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists – but the Lakers did whatever they wanted on offense. Los Angeles shot 56% from the field, including 19-for-39 from three, and out-rebounded the Mavericks 53-27.
The Clippers also played on Christmas as it exacted a little regular-season revenge on the Denver Nuggets in a 121-108 win. Los Angeles was phenomenal offensively, shooting 55% for the game and 50% from behind the arc, but the major storyline was the injury of All-Star Kawhi Leonard. He was accidentally elbowed in the jaw by teammate PF Serge Ibaka when both were going for a rebound and Leonard was bleeding from his mouth as he exited the game in the fourth.
Last year’s first-round Mavericks-Clippers playoff series was tied 2-2 before Los Angeles blew out Dallas by double-digits in Games 5 and 6 due to, in part, to masterful Kawhi Leonard performances.
The Claw scored 33 in Game 5 and 32 in the Game 6 clincher, but Kawhi most likely will not suit up for this Mavericks-Clippers game. It’s a good spot for Dallas to get a little revenge on the Clippers without their best player. I’d only BET MAVERICKS (+165) lightly because Dallas plus the points is a better play.
Against the spread (ATS)
We are going to buck the head-to-head trends and, regardless of how good Paul George looks, BET MAVERICKS +4.5 (-105) for 1 unit. The Mavericks have covered only twice in its last 10 games against the Clippers and is 1-4 ATS in their five in Los Angeles.
However, Dallas probably looked for its games against the Clippers first when the regular-season schedule was released because of that chippy playoff series with Los Angeles last year.
Porzingis was ejected from Game 1 for a sketchy flagrant foul call, Morris and Luka got into some beef after Morris seemingly targeted Luka’s sprained ankle in Game 5 then Morris was ejected from Game 6 for a flagrant foul 2 on Luka.
BET MAVERICKS +4.5 (-105) just in case they cannot win outright.
Over/Under (O/U)
Though it has only been two games, it appears that the biggest change in style implemented by Clippers’ new head coach Ty Lue is upping Los Angeles’ volume of 3-point attempts. Last year’s Clippers team was 16th in 3-point rate while this season they rank No. 3.
Also, Dallas has started a little slow this season offensively, but the Mavericks were the most efficient offense in the NBA last season. The potential absences of Kawhi and Morris are going to weaken Los Angeles’ defense.
TAKE OVER 228.5 (-115).
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