The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers will each look to take a 3-2 lead in their 2024 NBA Playoffs matchup when they meet in Game 5 on Wednesday. The teams split two games in Dallas and two in Los Angeles before this competition. The fifth-seeded Mavericks (50-32) have played well against their Western Conference opponents, going 31-21 within the conference. The fourth-seeded Clippers (51-31) are 30-22 against the West. Kawhi Leonard (knee) remains out for Los Angeles, while Tim Hardaway Jr. (ankle) is out for Dallas.
The game begins at 10 p.m. ET at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Clippers are averaging 102 points per game in the playoffs, 11th best in the NBA, while Dallas is averaging 101.3, 12th best. The Mavs are 3-point favorites in the latest Mavericks vs. Clippers odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under on total points scored is 209.5. Before making any Clippers vs. Mavericks picks, you’ll want to check out NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profits for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five seasons. The model enters Week 3 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs with a scorching 92-61 score on all top-rated NBA picks this season, netting over $2,600. Anyone who follows the model has seen huge benefits.
Now the model has set its sights on Mavs vs. Clippers and has just locked in its NBA playoff picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Clippers vs. Mavs:
- Mavericks vs. Clippers gap: Dallas -3
- Mavericks vs. Clippers plus/minus: 209.5 points
- Money line Mavericks vs. Clippers: Dallas -146, Los Angeles +123
- DAL: The Mavericks have gone under in 41 of their last 61 games (+19.00 units)
- LAC: The Clippers have reached the team total Under in 25 of their last 37 games (+11.30 units)
- Mavericks vs. Clippers picks: See the picks on SportsLine
Why the Mavericks can cover
Point guard Luka Doncic continues his mastery of the NBA and has just achieved a triple-double in Game 4 with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He has 77 triple-doubles in his career and is coming off a regular season that saw him record 21 triple-doubles. During the regular season, he averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds. He scored in double figures in all 70 games he played, scoring 30 or more points in 50 of them, including a career-high 73 points against Atlanta on January 26.
Point guard Kyrie Irving also helps propel Dallas. The first overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers is averaging 28.8 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals in four playoff games. He’s been red hot from the court this series, connecting on 51.3% of his shots from the floor, including 48.5% from 3-point range and 90.5% from the foul line. In 58 regular season games, he averaged 25.6 points, 5.2 assists and five rebounds. He also scored in double figures in every game, including 13 games with 30 or more points. Find out which team to support on SportsLine.
Why the Clippers can cover
Despite the absence of small forward Leonard, injured in the knee, the Los Angeles offense remains formidable. Shooting guard James Harden has stepped up his game and is coming off a 33-point, seven-assist, six-rebound performance in Sunday’s Game 4 win. He scored at least 21 points in all four games of the series. In the first game, he narrowly missed a double-double with 28 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in a 109-97 victory.
Forward Paul George reached double figures in three of the four games in the series. In Sunday’s win, he scored 33 points, while adding eight assists, six rebounds and four steals. He had 22 points in Games 1 and 2. During the regular season, he averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals. He has had success against the Mavericks throughout his career. In 26 games, he averaged 22.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, four assists and 1.4 steals in 36.3 minutes. Find out which team to support on SportsLine.
How to make Mavericks vs. Clippers picks
SportsLine’s model relies on the total, projecting the teams will combine for 218 points. The model also indicates that one side of the gap occurs in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the picks on SportsLine.
So who wins the Clippers against the Mavericks, and which side of the spread reaches well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Mavericks vs. Clippers split you should jump to, all from the model on a 92-61 outcome on the highest-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
