Free NBA Pick: Knicks vs. Clippers NBA Odds
Looking for Dallas Mavericks vs. LA Clippers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Mavericks taking on the Clippers on Saturday, May 22nd, 2021 at the Staples Center. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Mavericks Clippers matchup.
2021 NBA Playoffs Handicapping Round 1
(0-0) Dallas Mavericks vs. LA Clippers (0-0)
Date: Saturday, May 22nd
Time: 4:30 PM EST
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
NBA Moneyline Odds: Mavericks +195 | Clippers -205
NBA Betting Odds: Clippers -5
NBA Betting Total: 218.5
Game two on the playoff slate features the Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers in a repeat of their first-round meeting last season that LA won 4-2.
The Mavericks hold the all-time record having won 95 matches of the 162 played. This season, the teams played three times with Dallas winning two of the three contests.
Dallas Mavericks
If the Mavericks have a nemesis it would be easy to point to the Clippers. After all, this was the same squad who took them out last season. Tempers flared in the series with game one going to LA courtesy of the refs.
Kristaps Porzingis cleanly blocked Paul George but the officials deemed it a foul and assessed a tech for Porzingis complaining. He was ejected in the third quarter after a second tech for defending Luka Doncic from instigator Marcus Morris.
That handed the Clippers the win in a game that could’ve gone either way. The Mavericks were clearly still motivated by the playoff loss to the Clippers and didn’t just beat them – they annihilated them 124-73.
While Luka Doncic has the talent to win a game all on his own the question mark will be whether Porzingis can stay healthy and also not get lured into drama by Marcus Morris or other instigators on LA.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Jalen Brunson, Dwight Powell, and Dorian Finney-Smith were all clicking at season end but will the long layoff affect their rhythm?
Maxi Kleber (right Achilles soreness) is probable while JJ Redick (right Achilles injury) is out.
LA Clippers
To close out the season the Clippers were 4-6 but partially out of desire as they rested the majority of their core in order to avoid the chance of having to play the Lakers in the first round and to avoid their side of the bracket.
It seems odd they wouldn’t want to face the Lakers early while LeBron James is still shaking off the rust and getting back his rhythm.
Clearly, Kawhi Leonard is equally as compelling as Doncic and capable of taking over a game. The question is how his teammates will perform.
The self-titled “Playoff P” (Paul George) needs to make up for his abysmal Disney bubble performance. Not since his days with Indy has George been a force in the playoffs so the pressure is on for him to deliver this season.
Conversely, Rajon Rondo can boast as he has been “Playoff Rondo” upping his performances from the regular season. His ability to deliver again may find Patrick Beverley and Reggie Jackson getting fewer minutes.
With the best perimeter shooting team in the association, Rondo’s playmaking could be huge as both Leonard and PG13 have a tendency to fall in love with iso-ball and it bogs down the Clippers’ offense.
Notably, two of the Clippers’ four worst 3-point shooting nights occurred versus the Mavericks (per John Schuhmann).
The other question mark is how healthy is Serge Ibaka? He missed 30 games down the stretch with a lower back injury and returned for the final two matches showing the rust shooting 1 of 7 from deep.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Clippers are 6-4 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings.
- The Clippers are 6-4 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these clubs
- The over/under is 5-5 in the last 10 contests between the clubs.
Free Dallas Mavericks vs. LA Clippers NBA Prediction:
If the Doncic and Porzingis get rolling early will the Clippers respond again by having Morris try to cause conflict and will the refs see it the same way this time?
Both clubs have something to prove but Rick Carlisle will undoubtedly have his team amped up telling them how LA purposely lost to play them.
Dallas was rolling to end the season (12-4) defeating the Heat, Nets and Lakers twice. Much of their success was tied to an improved defense and the team playing with more offensive flow.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Mavericks +5
While it’s likely the Clippers win the series – the refs owe Dallas this match after what they pulled in the bubble.
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