Mavericks up 2-1, Clippers Struggling to Score Before Game Four
Clippers vs Mavericks Preview, Predictions and More
In this Clippers vs Mavericks preview, we are going to take a look at the Western Conference side of the NBA playoffs bracket. These two teams had almost identical NBA records in the regular season, but after the Mavericks convincing game three win, they certainly have an advantage against their conference foe Los Angeles Clippers.
Game one of the series showed that Dallas was unprepared for a playoff fight. They came out flat, and even without Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers controlled the game from the jump.
Despite a solid outing from Luka Doncic (33 points and 13 rebounds) and Kyrie Irving (31 points and seven rebounds), the Mavericks were unable to get support from their role players. Ultimately their slow start (9 for 40 FG in the first half) doomed the Mavericks to a 102-88 defeat.
Game two followed a different script. Kawhi Leonard returned from his injury absence, and even with him as an added offensive option, clutch play, and late-game heroics from Luka Donic (32 points, nine assists) propelled the Mavericks over the Clippers 96-93. This game was a defensive war, with neither team ever taking a double-digit lead, and included ten different lead changes.
In game three Dallas imposed themselves on the Clippers to flip the narrative and the series. The heat was turned up in Dallas as this game included a double ejection of Russell Westbrook and P.J. Washington. Dallas put on a defensive clinic, holding Kawhi to just nine points and Paul George to seven.
Only three Clippers players scored in double digits, compared to five on Dallas. Dallas led most of the game behind a strong team effort offensively, but their defense holding the Clippers to 90 points in their 101-90 victory was the real story.
NBA odds have game four set at Dallas -5.5, a total of 209. This Clippers vs Mavericks preview will look at the series so far and see if there are any bets out there with some decent value.
Los Angeles Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks 
Day/Time:
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Streaming: ABC
Clippers Big Three Missing
When the Clippers traded for James Harden, completing their version of a Big Three, many thought they were primed to make a run at an NBA championship. Unfortunately, they are now on the ropes against a familiar foe in Luka Doncic and the Mavericks.
A big reason they are in a hole down 2-1 playing game four on the road is the fact that their Big Three of Harden, George, and Leonard. Kawhi and PG were held to a combined 16 points in game three, which is simply not even close to enough scoring for the Clippers to remain competitive in this series.
In his two games since returning from injury, Kawhi’s point prop has been set at 21.5. In game two Kawhi had 15 points and in game three only nine. The Mavericks defense is too locked in on Kawhi, and because he is maybe playing at less than 100% health, we don’t see him overcoming the force of Dallas’s defense (Dallas ranked first in defensive efficiency over the last 15 games of the season).
If oddsmakers are setting Kawhi’s points prop anywhere near the 21.5 from previous games, we believe there is good value in betting the under.
Washington and Gafford for the Mavs last night combined:
18 PTS/9 REB/5 STL/4 BLK/ 0 TO/+32Westbrook, Kawhi and PG for the Clippers:
17 PTS/17 REB/8 AST/1 STL/2 BLK/7 TO/ -3and of course the best photo yet from the playoffs in 2024, Mavs in 6!#NBAPlayoffs #NBA #MFFL pic.twitter.com/T2XdVmXc8T
— Alaa Alarashi (@AlaaAlarashi) April 27, 2024
Just Enough Luka Magic
The Mavericks are winning this series because of their defense. In their two wins, they’ve held the Clippers to under 100 points in each of their wins, and since game one, the Clippers don’t seem to have a consistent way of scoring on Dallas.
On the offensive side of the ball, as always, the Mavericks have been taken care of by the exceptional play of young superstar Luka Doncic. Doncic has led Dallas in both scoring and assists, and although has shot poorly throughout the series, has been able to keep the Dallas offense afloat.
In the first three games of the series, Luka has fallen short of his points prop, going under each game. We think Luka will control the game, and Dallas’s offense in game four, but is liable to go under again due to this series’ defensive nature.
Dallas Takes Over the Series
No Clippers vs Mavericks preview would be complete without a little Clippers panic getting people riled up. The Clippers are 5.5-point underdogs on the road in game four, and they not only haven’t been playing well but aren’t fully healthy.
Dallas took the first punch in this series and has been in control ever since. We expect Dallas to likely cover, but definitely go up 3-1 and take the series back to LA feeling good.
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