10:10 pm
June 2

Mavericks @ Clippers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Dallas Mavericks (42-30)

@ Los Angeles Clippers (47-25)

 

Current odds:

Dallas Mavericks: (+270)

Los Angeles Clippers: (-330)

 

• The spread for the game is Los Angeles by 7.5 points.

• The Mavericks will be seeking a third straight win in Los Angeles, while the Clippers go after a third consecutive victory overall, in a 2-2 series that’s already been unlike any other in each team’s postseason history. Fifth-seeded Dallas got the jump on its fourth-seeded opponent with 113-103 and 127-121 wins in its previous two visits to Los Angeles.

• It was the first time since 2011 that the Mavericks took a 2-0 lead in a playoff series, and just the second time they’d gone up 2-0 on the road. That only previous 2-0 start on the road also occurred in Los Angeles, when the Mavericks stunned the Lakers to begin their Western semifinal series in 2011. But on that occasion, Dallas then took care of business at home, completing a four-game sweep.

• After a sluggish start to the series — Game 1 for Kawhi Leonard, Games 1-2 for Paul George — the Clippers got their big two rolling in Dallas. Leonard averaged 32.5 points in the wins, shooting 24-for-32, while George chipped in with 24.5 points per game, finding the range on his 3-pointer (5-for-12) after going just 3-for-15 in the two home games.

• Dallas standout Luka Doncic did everything he could to give the Mavericks a shot in Game 3, pouring in 44 points, but struggled through neck pain and managed just 19 points — 12 fewer than any of the previous three games — on 9-for-24 shooting on Sunday. The two days off came at a good time for the Mavericks, who hope to see the Doncic from earlier games in Los Angeles in Game 5.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Los Angeles Clippers
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