The Dallas Mavericks' lauded offense has fallen by the wayside in the playoffs, giving way to a pair of stunning defensive performances to lift them to a 2-1 series lead over the LA Clippers.
Both stars leading the way for their respective teams have picked up injuries, and now we're left with an utterly confusing Game 4 as we attempt to sort out the rotations and figure out what to make of the last two games, which have been ugly.
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Can the Mavericks find their touch again on offense to put the game -- and series -- out of reach? Will the Clippers respond here by tapping back into their other-worldly offense which led the league for the better part of a month?
Let's get into the best way to bet on Clippers vs. Mavericks on Sunday, April 28.
LA CLIPPERS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS FANDUEL ODDS FOR APR. 28
MONEY LINE
- LA CLIPPERS: +198
- DALLAS MAVERICKS: -240
SPREAD
- LA CLIPPERS: +6 (-110)
- DALLAS MAVERICKS: -6 (-110)
OVER/UNDER (TOTAL)
- OVER 209 (-110)
- UNDER 209 (-110)
BEST ODDS FOR LA CLIPPERS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS
- The best odds on the LA Clippers are over at Caesars, where you'll find Clippers +6 (-110).
- Dallas is being offered at different numbers depending on where you look, with the best odds on Mavericks -5.5 (-108) at BetRivers.
- The best odds on the Over are at BetMGM, offering Over 208.5 (-110). You'll find the best odds on the Under at FanDuel, who is hanging Under 209 (-110).
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LA CLIPPERS VS. DALLAS MAVERICKS INJURY REPORT
LA CLIPPERS INJURY REPORT
- KAWHI LEONARD - QUESTIONABLE - KNEE
DALLAS MAVERICKS INJURY REPORT
- LUKA DONCIC - QUESTIONABLE - KNEE
- TIM HARDAWAY, JR. - DOUBTFUL - ANKLE
WHY
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS WILL COVER THE SPREAD
It may seem hard to believe after what we've witnessed over the last two games, but the Clippers did lead the league in offensive efficiency for over a month during the middle of the season. Their shooting was exquisite, they didn't turn the ball over and they ran the pick-and-roll to perfection behind James Harden and Ivica Zubac.
In mustering up just 101.1 points per 100 possessions across the last two games, LA has done well to make that seem like a distant memory. It came out in Game 1 and went 18-for-36 from 3, and in two game since has made the same number of 3s in 59 attempts, equating to just a 30.5% mark from outside.
The Clippers will need to hope that the Mavericks' 25th-ranked 3-point defense from the regular season rears its head, and that they continue to have success on the road. LA shot the 3 at a ridiculous 39.8% clip away from home this year, which was 3.4 points better than what it had to show for when hosting. The Clippers did have some issues shooting over the Mavs' defense, hitting just 31% of their looks, though they were significantly better -- by roughly five percentage points -- in the games played in Dallas.
WHY
DALLAS MAVERICKS
WILL COVER THE SPREAD
The Mavericks will cover here if their offense shows any sort of life. We mentioned that they've done an exceptional job both in the last two games, and in the season series against the Clippers when defending the 3. They didn't do a great job on the whole defensively with a 114.6 efficiency rating, however, which has me staring at their gaudy 117.9 offensive rating during the season series.
Dallas is also going to need Doncic to have avoided serious injury after the perennial MVP candidate noted that his knee was "stiff" after Game 3, calling it "not good." Neither he or Kawhi Leonard are expected to miss this game, but he will need to put the offense on his back to ensure victory given it seems impossible for LA to continue floundering like this offensively.
The Mavericks also have to be encouraged by winning the rebounding battle over the course of the season series, and pulling the margin back in their favor over the last two games. They've also added a new wrinkle to their offense with a stunning 73.3% of shots falling from within four feet, which would pair well with the outside shot if that ever returned.
FINAL CLIPPERS-MAVERICKS PICK & PREDICTION
The Clippers are better than this. Even though they have struggled to shoot the ball in this particular matchup a total of five times in six games, they still managed to torch a poor Mavericks interior defense this year and they did post a stellar mark offensively in Game 1.
If there were ever a spot to bet on a revival for the Clippers' offense it would be on the road, where the Clippers have done their best work offensively, against one of the worst 3-point defenses in the NBA. That's exactly what I'll do here.
LA has proven capable of scoring the ball without Leonard on the floor this year, and if he's to miss this game or play limited minutes -- something the line indicates -- I still have faith in the remainder of this team to pick up the slack considering they're stacked with shooting everywhere you look. The Clippers, with or without Leonard in this series, have quieted a high-powered offense. With Doncic now banged up and unable to play at his best level, I don't anticipate LA needing a special night on offense to win, merely one which is somewhat in line with its performance over the course of the season.
The value here is all on the Clippers, and I'll also point out that there's not a coach alive in the playoffs better equipped to make in-series adjustments than Ty Lue.
FINAL CLIPPERS-MAVERICKS PICK & PREDICTION: LA CLIPPERS +6 (-110)
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