Los Angeles Clippers (47-25) vs Dallas Mavericks (42-30)
Game Info: Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 4:30 pm (Staples Center)
Betting Odds: Los Angeles Clippers -5.5 -- Over/Under: 222.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
The Los Angeles Clippers play host to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 at the Staples Center on Saturday night.
The Dallas Mavericks finished the regular season with 10 wins in their final 14 games to finish with the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Luka Doncic was a rock for the Mavericks as he led the team with averages of 27.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game, Kristaps Porzingis played just 43 games and averaged 20.1 points and 8.9 rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. played 70 games and averaged 16.6 points while Jalen Brunson averaged 12.6 points and 3.5 assists per game off the bench. As a team, the Mavericks scored 112.4 points per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from the 3-point line.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers stumbled their way into the playoffs as they suspiciously dropped their last two regular season games to the Rockets and the Thunder to finish with the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Kawhi Leonard played a total of 52 games in the regular season and averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game, Paul George averaged 23.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while Marcus Morris averaged 13.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. As a team, the Clippers scored an average of 114.0 points per game while shooting impressive averages of 48.2 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from the 3-point line.
Looking at the betting trends, the Mavericks are 5-1 ATS in their last six games against a team with a winning record, 5-12 ATS in their last 17 Conference Quarterfinals games and 4-1 ATS in their last five games as an underdog. The Clippers are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 home games, 20-5-1 ATS in their last 26 games playing on three or more days rest and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
Head to head, the under is 4-0 in the last four meetings overall and the Mavericks are 4-9 ATS in the last 13 meetings overall.
The Clippers open as heavy favorites in this matchup and you have to like their chances given the number of defenders they have to throw at the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic who will have to carry a heavy load in this matchup. This is a series that could easily go seven games if Doncic gets hot like he did in the bubble, but I think it starts with the Clippers drawing first blood with a narrow win and cover in the series opener. I just feel that the duo of Leonard and George will do enough to frustrate Doncic and keep the Mavericks quiet in this one.