Mavericks vs Clippers Game 1 Picks, Odds | NBA Playoffs Prediction

The 2024 NBA Playoffs resume with another loaded 4-game slate this Sunday -- and the second matchup of the day we'll preview is Mavericks vs Clippers Game 1, which is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

The Clippers are 1.5-point underdogs on the spread in Sunday's contest, while the total is set at over/under 224 total points at DraftKings.

Here's everything you need to know about Mavericks vs Clippers -- the latest betting odds, as well as our expert picks and prediction for the NBA Playoffs on Sunday, April 21.

Mavericks vs Clippers Odds

DAL @ LAC Odds

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Mavericks vs Clippers Picks & Prediction

It was a bumpy road for Los Angeles, but the Clippers earned the four-seed in the West with a record of 51-31 this season – and at times, they looked like legitimate contenders to win the conference, finishing 4th in offensive rating and 7th in overall net rating.

As previously mentioned though, it’s been a tough road for the Clips, especially during the back half of the season, considering they own a lackluster record of 17-16 in their last 33 contests, while ranking 15th in offensive rating and 23rd in defensive rating during that span. and the future looks awfully gloomy for LAC with Kawhi Leonard listed as questionable for Game 1, with no official timetable for return.

The fact of the matter is, however, the Clippers have little-to-no chance in this series if they don’t step up their play at the offensive end of the floor. Scoring is rarely an issue for Dallas with the superstar duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving at the helm, as the Mavericks earned the five-seed in the West with a record of 50-32 behind an offense that ranks top-10 in both offensive rating and points per game.

Defense has been a problem for Dallas though, highlighted by the Mavericks finishing the season ranked 20th in points allowed per game and 18th in defensive rating. So, the ideal way to beat Dallas would be to stand toe-to-toe and match their production at the offensive end of the floor, but I can’t see LAC doing that with Kawhi absent (or less than 100%).

On top of that, it seems like Dallas finally found a spark at the defensive end during the final month or so of the regular season, and the result has been immaculate, highlighted by the Mavs closing their campaign with a stellar 16-4 run, which can mainly be attributed to their defense leading the entire NBA in defensive rating during that time frame.

Very few teams have experienced highs-and-lows to the extent that the Clippers have this season. At various points, the Clips have looked like top shelf contenders in the West – most notably, when they went on a 12-2 run spanning January and February, while leading the entire NBA in offensive rating by a comfortable margin during that span.

With that said though, the Clippers still ranked 18th in defensive rating during their best stretch of the year, which is on-par with the fact that they rank 17th on the season – and their defense only got worse down the homestretch, considering they rank 23rd in defensive rating since February 6.

Even if the Clippers manage to flip a switch and return to peak form in the playoffs, I still expect them to come up well short against a Mavericks team that is fully capable of matching their best effort at both ends of the floor – and if LAC doesn’t bring it’s A-game early (which we haven’t seen in a while), Dallas may send them packing early in this series.

Pick: Mavericks -1.5 (-110)

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Mavericks vs Clippers Game Time & TV Channel

Date: Sunday, April 21
Matchup: Southwest vs Pacific
Venue: Crypto.com Arena
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Time-TV: ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET

Mavericks vs Clippers Betting Stats

4) Los Angeles Clippers
(1st Place, Pacific)

  • Odds to Win Finals: +1700
  • Odds to Win Conference: +700
  • Odds to Win Series: +110
  • SU: 51-31
  • ATS: 38-44
  • O/U: 37-45
  • PPG: 115.6
  • OPPG: 112.3

5) Dallas Mavericks
(1st Place, Southwest)

  • Odds to Win Finals: +1600
  • Odds to Win Conference: +550
  • Odds to Win Series: -134
  • SU: 50-32
  • ATS: 48-34
  • O/U: 36-45-1
  • PPG: 117.9
  • OPPG: 115.6

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