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For the second straight season, the Los Angeles Clippers will face the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Last season was the first time the two clubs had ever met in the postseason.
Where to Bet on the 2021 NBA Playoffs
The Mavs and Clips split the first four games of that series and then L.A. won the final two. In the deciding Game 6, the Clippers Kawhi Leonard became the first NBA player since 2000 to total 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ steals in a playoff game.
Leonard and Mavericks star Luka Doncic will certainly impact the outcome of this year’s series. The Clippers are a -360 favorite to win the series. Doncic gives the Mavs some hope as a +270 underdog. Here’s a look at how this first-round series will play out.
Mavericks vs. Clippers H2H Results
The Mavericks and Clippers played three times this season; once in Los Angeles and twice in Dallas. Dallas captured two of the three games.
Back at the beginning of the new season, the teams met on Dec. 27 in L.A. Leonard did not play for the Clippers and Paul George only played 24 minutes. As a result, Dallas ran away with an easy 124-73 victory.
The teams played back-to-back games in March with a day off in between. The Clippers, with Leonard in the lineup, won the first game 109-99 but lost the second as Doncic fired in 42 points. George had 28 and Leonard 20, but the Mavs won 105-89.
Advantage Clippers
The Clippers are one of the best all-around teams in the NBA. They are 10th in scoring averaging 114.0 points per game. Part of the reason why is the Clippers lead the league in three-point field goal percentage (41.1%).
Los Angeles is also very good on the defensive end. They rank fourth in points allowed per game giving up 107.8 points a game.
The Clippers are built around Leonard (24.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.2 apg) and George (23.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.2 apg). Point guard Patrick Beverley and PF Marcus Williams are integral parts of the offense and all are great two-way players.
They also have a bench that features three-point ace Luke Kennard and veteran inside force Serge Ibaka. There are few weak links with the Clippers.
Advantage Mavericks
Where the Mavs have an edge is with Doncic. He’s the best player on the floor scoring 27.7 points and averaging 8.6 assists per game. He shoots 48 percent from the floor and is almost impossible to defend.
Dallas can spread the floor with 7-3 Kristaps Porzingis (20.1 ppg) able to play from a wing and shooting guard Tim Hardaway (16.6 ppg) able to launch threes from anywhere.
The Mavericks don’t get a lot of credit for their defense, which actually rivals that of the Clippers. Dallas is ninth in overall defensive shooting percentage. L.A. was 13th . If Dallas can continually contest shots, they may have a chance to pull the upset.
Expert NBA Handicapper Reviews
Mavericks vs. Clippers Playoffs Series Winner
The Clippers are simply too good. Like last year, Dallas can pull out a win or two but over the course of a seven-game series Los Angeles is simply too talented, too deep, and too experienced.
PREDICTION: CLIPPERS in 6
