A pivotal Game 3 gets underway on Friday as the No. 4 seed Los Angeles Clippers go on the road to play the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs. Games 3 and 4 will be in Dallas after the first two games were split 1-1. These clubs squared off three times during the regular season and the Clippers won the season series 2-1. Kawhi Leonard (knee) is questionable for Los Angeles.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Mavericks are 4.5-point favorites in the latest Clippers vs. Mavericks odds via SportsLine consensus. The over/under for total points is 212.5. Before making any Mavericks vs. Clippers 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 Mavs vs. Clippers 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. Mavs:
- Mavericks vs. Clippers spread: Dallas -4.5
- Mavericks vs. Clippers over/under: 212.5 points
- Mavericks vs. Clippers money line: Dallas -185, Los Angeles +153
- DAL: 34-19 ATS this season at home
- LAC: 3-2 ATS this season against the Mavs
- Mavericks vs. Clippers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Mavericks can cover
Guard Luka Doncic continues to show why he's one of the best players in the NBA. The 25-year-old threads the needle as a passer while scoring from all three levels with consistency. Through two games in this series, he leads the team in scoring (32.5), rebounds (9.5) and assists (7.5). In the Game 2 win, Doncic had 32 points, six rebounds and nine assists.
Guard Kyrie Irving is one of the best ball handlers in the league. Irving can get past any defender due to his speed and quickness with the ball. The former Duke product is acrobatic in the lane while owning a pure jumper. In this series, he's averaging 27 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest. In Game 1, Irving dropped 31 points, seven rebounds and four assists. See which team to pick here.
Why the Clippers can cover
Center Ivica Zubac sets strong screens, is a solid rebounder on both ends and owns a soft touch around the rim. In this series, he leads the team in rebounds (13.5) with 16.5 points per game. The 27-year-old recorded back-to-back double-doubles. In Game 1, Zubac had 20 points and 15 boards.
Leonard would provide a huge boost for Los Angeles if he can go. Leonard can score from all three levels on the court with the instincts to be disruptive in the passing lane. The 32-year-old missed Game 1, but in Game 2 he racked up 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals. In 34 career games against the Mavericks, Leonard averages 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 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 225 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits 60% of the time. You can only see the model's pick and analysis at SportsLine.
So who wins Mavericks vs. Clippers, and which side of the spread hits 60% of the time? 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.
