The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers will each look to grab a 3-2 lead in their 2024 NBA playoffs matchup when they meet in Game 5 on Wednesday. The teams have split two games in Dallas and two in Los Angeles, leading up to this contest. The Mavericks (50-32), the fifth seed, have played well against Western Conference foes, going 31-21 within the conference. The Clippers (51-31), the fourth seed, 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 will tip off at 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Clippers are averaging 102 points per game in the postseason, 11th-best in the NBA, while Dallas averages 101.3, 12th-best. The Mavs are 3-point favorites in the latest Mavericks vs. Clippers odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 209.5. Before making any Clippers vs. Mavericks picks, you'll want to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the third week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 92-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Mavs vs. Clippers and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff 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 spread: Dallas -3
- Mavericks vs. Clippers over/under: 209.5 points
- Mavericks vs. Clippers money line: Dallas -146, Los Angeles +123
- DAL: The Mavericks have hit the game total Under in 41 of their last 61 games (+19.00 units)
- LAC: The Clippers have hit the team total Under in 25 of their last 37 games (+11.30 units)
- Mavericks vs. Clippers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Mavericks can cover
Point guard Luka Doncic continues his mastery over the NBA and is coming off 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 which saw him post 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 Jan. 26.
Also helping power Dallas is point guard Kyrie Irving. The first pick of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers is averaging 28.8 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals in four postseason games. He has been red hot from the field this series, connecting on 51.3% of his shots from the floor, including a blistering 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 every game, including 13 games with 30 or more points. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Clippers can cover
Despite the absence of small forward Leonard, who remains out with a knee injury, the Los Angeles offense remains formidable. Shooting guard James Harden has stepped up his play and is coming off a 33-point, seven-assist and six-rebound performance in Sunday's Game 4 win. He has scored at least 21 points in all four games of the series. In Game 1, he narrowly missed a double-double with 28 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in a 109-97 win.
Forward Paul George has reached double-digit scoring in three of the four games in the series. In Sunday's win, he poured in 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 his way against the Mavericks throughout his career. In 26 games, he is averaging 22.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, four assists and 1.4 steals in 36.3 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Mavericks vs. Clippers picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 218 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Clippers vs. Mavericks, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Mavericks vs. Clippers spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 92-61 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
