The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping to not only get small forward Kawhi Leonard (questionable; knee) back from injury, but take a commanding 2-0 series lead when they take on the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round matchup on Tuesday. The fifth-seeded Mavericks (50-32) are back in the 2024 NBA playoffs after missing out last season. The fourth-seeded Clippers (51-31), who reached the postseason for the fifth time in six years, have not gotten to the second round since 2021. Los Angeles opened the series with a 109-97 win in Game 1.
The game from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles will tip off at 10 p.m. ET. The Mavericks averaged 117.9 points, seventh-best in the NBA, while the Clippers averaged 115.6 points, 12th-best. Los Angeles is a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Mavericks vs. Clippers odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 216.5. 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 second week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 90-58 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Los Angeles vs. Dallas and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Clippers vs. Mavericks:
- Mavericks vs. Clippers spread: Dallas +1.5
- Mavericks vs. Clippers over/under: 216.5 points
- Mavericks vs. Clippers money line: Dallas +100, Los Angeles -120
- DAL: The Mavericks have hit the game total under in 39 of their last 58 games (+18.10 units)
- LAC: The Clippers have hit the team total under in 23 of their last 34 games (+10.45 units)
- Mavericks vs. Clippers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Mavericks can cover
Guard Luka Doncic continues to set the bar high for Dallas. In Game 1, he led the Mavericks with 33 points to go along with 13 rebounds and six assists. Doncic has set several records this season, including a career-high and franchise record with 73 points at Atlanta on Jan. 26. He has reached double digits in all 71 games, including the postseason, and has scored 30 or more points 51 times. He registered 49 double-doubles and 21 triple-doubles during the regular season.
Guard Kyrie Irving was red hot against the Clippers on Sunday, pouring in 31 points, while adding seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Irving's 48 points against Houston on April 7 were his Mavericks career high. He also became the second player in team history to record at least 40 points and 10 assists in a game, when he scored 44 points and dished out 10 assists in a 128-124 win over New York on Jan. 11. On March 17, he recorded his second career game-winning buzzer beater to beat the Denver Nuggets 107-105. See which team to pick here.
Why the Clippers can cover
Veteran shooting guard James Harden was dominant in Game 1, leading Los Angeles with 28 points, eight assists, two blocks and two rebounds. Harden has reached double-digit scoring in four of the past five games, including a triple-double in a 131-102 win over Utah on April 5. In that game, Harden scored 13 points, dished out 15 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds. In 72 regular-season games, all starts, he averaged 16.6 points, 8.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 34.3 minutes.
Forward Paul George poured in 22 points, while adding six rebounds, three assists and one steal in the series opener. In 74 regular season games, all starts, George was solid, averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 33.8 minutes. He has a 28-game streak of reaching double digits, which included a 41-point performance at Charlotte in a 130-118 win on March 31. George reached 18,000 career points on April 9 at Phoenix, becoming one of seven active NBA players with 18,000 points, 5,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists. See which team to pick here.
How to make Clippers vs. Mavericks picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 227 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all of the value. You can only see the model's pick and analysis at SportsLine.
So who Mavericks vs. Clippers, and which side of the spread has all of the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Clippers vs. Mavericks spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,800 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
