The Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks face off in a Western Conference first-round series. These two teams face off in one of the most competitive matchup's of the first round. The Clippers defeated the Mavericks in six games in the opening round of last year's postseason. Dallas took the head-to-head regular season series 2-1. Let's get a deeper Mavericks-Clippers series breakdown with odds, schedule, predictions, picks, and more.
Mavericks-Clippers Series Odds (Updated 5/31)
Mavericks-Clippers Series Winner
Dallas Mavericks (+260)
Los Angeles Clippers (-340)
Mavericks-Clippers Series Correct Score
Mavericks 4-2 +650
Mavericks 4-3 +460
Clippers 4-2 +115
Clippers 4-3 +185
Mavericks-Clippers Series Schedule
Game 1: DAL 113-103 LAC
Game 2: DAL 127-121 LAC
Game 3: LAC 118-108 DAL
Game 4: LAC 106-81 DAL
Game 5: DAL 105-100 LAC
Game 6: LAC 104-97 DAL
Game 7: DAL 111-126 LAC
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers had a phenomenal season and many believe should've been a higher seed in the postseason. Los Angeles was sitting in the third spot in the Western Conference for most of the season and slipped to the fourth seed late in the year. Many believe that the Clippers intentionally “tanked” in order to get this first-round matchup against Dallas and avoid having to play the Lakers before the Western Conference Finals. Whether that be true or not, Los Angeles will have their hands full with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.
The Clippers were soaring because of one of the most efficient shooting seasons in league history. Los Angeles shot over 40% as a club from deep, which was the best clip in the NBA. They had the fifth-best field-goal percentage as a club as well and scored 113 points per game. The Clippers are well-rounded as they allowed the fourth-fewest points per game. Los Angeles did struggle to slow the Mavericks down as they lost two of the three head-to-head matchup's and looked awful in the first game of the season against Luka and co.
No. 5 Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks have been trending upward over the past few seasons and seem primed for a playoff run in the near future. Luka Doncic looks like a top-five NBA player right now and he's only getting better and better. In the third and final game between these two clubs in the regular season, Doncic dropped 42 points in a 16-point victory. With Kristaps Porzingis by his side, there is no reason to believe that Luka won't torment this series.
The key to this series for Dallas will be the health of Porzingis. The Mavericks big man averaged 23.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in the first three games of last year's series before going down with an injury. Dallas still pushed that series to six games and it certainly would've been interesting to see the outcome if he had stayed healthy. The Mavericks owned the Clippers in the first game of the regular season and split a 48-hour double-header with them back in March. With the way these teams ended the season, a legitimate argument can be made in favor of Dallas in this series.
Games 1-4 update: The Clippers appeared to be dead in the water after losing the first two games at home, but they responded by winning both games in Dallas to even the series at 2-2.
Mavericks-Clippers Series Prediction and Pick (5/26)
The Dallas Mavericks are off to a hot-start and seem to be in control of this matchup. The Clippers had their problems in the postseason last year and it's hard to believe they won't run into similar issues now. Paul George is capable of going ice-cold at any point and if it's Kawhi vs. Luka and Kristaps, advantage Mavericks. If the regular season is any indicator, I like Dallas to win this series and cover the series spread.
FINAL PICKS
Mavericks-Clippers Series Winner: Dallas Mavericks (-290)
Mavericks-Clippers Series Spread: Dallas Mavericks -1.5 (-178)
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