It's rinse and repeat when it comes to the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks pairing off for a seven-game series in the first round of the NBA playoffs, as this will mark the third time in five years basketball fans will witness this matchup unfold.
Here's a breakdown of all of the series data and betting information you need to know prior to these two squads battling it out once again in postseason action.
2024 NBA Playoff Previews
- Eastern Conference: No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Miami Heat
- Eastern Conference: No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
- Eastern Conference: No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers
- Eastern Conference: No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic
- Western Conference: No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans
- Western Conference: No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers
- Western Conference: No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns
- Western Conference: No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks
(Related Link) NBA Playoff Betting History: Key Trends, Tips
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Dallas Mavericks Hub
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks Series Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Arena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Sunday, April 21, 2024 | 3:30 p.m. | Crypto.com Arena |
| Game 2 | Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | 10 p.m. ET | Crypto.com Arena |
| Game 3 | Friday, April 26, 2024 | 8 p.m. ET | American Airlines Center |
| Game 4 | Sunday, April 28, 2024 | 3:30 p.m. ET | American Airlines Center |
| Game 5 | TBD | TBD | Crypto.com Arena |
| Game 6 | TBD | TBD | Crypto.com Arena |
| Game 7 | TBD | TBD | Crypto.com Arena |
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Dallas Mavericks Series Winner Odds
| Team | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | +120 |
| Dallas Mavericks | -142 |
Prior to the play-in tournament determining the final two entrants in the Western Conference playoff bracket, the Clippers are one of just two teams (Minnesota Timberwolves) to enter their series as an underdog despite holding the higher seed and the home-court advantage that comes with it.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks Total Games Odds
| Total Games | Odds |
|---|---|
| 6 Games | +190 |
| 7 Games | +230 |
| 5 Games | +260 |
| 4 Games | +420 |
There's a good reason why oddsmakers don't envision this to be a short series, and that's likely due to the prior two postseason meetings in 2020 and 2021 going six and seven games, respectively.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Dallas Mavericks Series Prediction Odds
| Series Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers 4-0 | +1600 |
| Los Angeles Clippers 4-1 | +650 |
| Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 | +700 |
| Los Angeles Clippers 4-3 | +460 |
| Dallas Mavericks 4-0 | +600 |
| Dallas Mavericks 4-1 | +550 |
| Dallas Mavericks 4-2 | +350 |
| Dallas Mavericks 4-3 | +700 |
Oddsmakers believe based on these numbers that the likely outcome is the Mavericks prevailing over the Clippers in six games at +350, and if that Los Angeles truly has a shot, it's going to need to do the distance at +460.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks 2023-24 Season Series (Clippers 2-1)
| Date | Result | Leading Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 20, 2023 | 120-111 Clippers | Kawhi Leonard, Clippers (30 Points) |
| Nov. 25, 2023 | 107-88 Clippers | Luka Doncic, Mavericks (30 Points) |
| Nov. 10, 2023 | 144-126 Mavericks | Luka Doncic, Mavericks (44 Points) |
The Clippers won the season series with the Mavericks outright for the first time since 2019-20. They had split 2-2 with Dallas the prior two seasons and also lost 2-1 in 2020-21.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Dallas Mavericks 2023-24 Spread History
| Date | Spread (Clippers) | Spread (Mavericks) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 20, 2023 | -1.5 | +1.5 | Clippers Cover (Favorites) |
| Nov. 25, 2023 | -1.5 | +1.5 | Clippers Cover (Favorites) |
| Nov. 10, 2023 | +1.5 | -1.5 | Mavericks Cover (Favorites) |
Oddsmakers had the spread at exactly 1.5 points for each of the three games. The favorite covered each time, with the Clippers finishing 46-17 SU when favored at all.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Dallas Mavericks 2023-24 OVER/UNDER History
| Date | Score | O/U Total | Final Total | O/U Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 20, 2023 | 120-111 | 237.5 | 231 | UNDER |
| Nov. 25, 2023 | 107-88 | 237.5 | 195 | UNDER |
| Nov. 10, 2023 | 144-126 | 235.5 | 270 | OVER |
Los Angeles hit the UNDER more than the OVER in 2023-24 at 37-43-2, while Dallas was slightly worse at 36-45-1.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Dallas Mavericks Top Scorer Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | -550 |
| Paul George | Los Angeles Clippers | +750 |
| Kawhi Leonard | Los Angeles Clippers | +750 |
| Kyrie Irving | Dallas Mavericks | +1600 |
| James Harden | Los Angeles Clippers | +6500 |
| Russell Westbrook | Los Angeles Clippers | +20000 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | Dallas Mavericks | +20000 |
| PJ Washington | Dallas Mavericks | +20000 |
Luka Doncic is the heavy favorite to lead the series in scoring, and deservedly so. He led all scorers during the season at 33.9 points per game, and totalled more than twice as many points against the Clippers (102) as any of his teammates who also played all three times.
Los Angeles Clippers Player To Watch: James Harden
| Games (vs. Mavs) | PTS | FG% | 3P% | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 13.0 | 34.6 | 35.3 | 4.7 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 |
While his numbers against Dallas specifically leave a lot to be desired, Los Angeles brought James Harden aboard via trade for moments like this. He's the third and hopefully final piece to the Clippers' puzzle of vying for a championship, but this matchup against Dallas won't do him any favors.
Once the game tips off, he's at best the third-best guard on the floor behind Dallas' backcourt. Harden will need to be a factor both as a scorer and facilitator to make a difference, while shooting the rock far more efficiently than he has.
Dallas Mavericks Player To Watch: Kyrie Irving
| Games (vs. Clippers) | PTS | FG% | 3P% | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 26.5 | 46.3 | 50.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Like Harden, there's also added pressure on Kyrie Irving to perform at the highest level, which he's certainly proven he can do both this season and throughout his career.
He's the perfect No. 2 next to Doncic, not only for his scoring intangibles, but for his playmaking, passing, on-court leadership, and proven track record in postseason action. Simply put, Irving is the key ingredient Doncic has missed in his chase for a championship, which could come as soon as this season.
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Dallas Mavericks Odds To Win Western Conference
| Team | Odds To Win West |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | +650 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +650 |
Both the Clippers and Mavericks have equal +650 odds to win the Western Conference championship, trailing only the Denver Nuggets (+135) and Oklahoma City Thunder (+600).
Los Angeles Clippers Vs. Dallas Mavericks Odds To Win NBA Championship
| Team | Odds To Win NBA Finals |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | +1500 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +1600 |
Los Angeles has slightly better odds in the race for Larry O'Brien, although both teams are well behind the Boston Celtics (+165) and reigning champion Nuggets (+300).
Expert Prediction: Dallas Mavericks (-142), Dallas Mavericks Win Series 4-3 (+700)
Excluding two-straight losses to close out the season in which Dallas rested a number of its players, there was arguably no other team in basketball hotter or more consistent than the Mavericks over the last month.
They went 16-2 SU from March 7 through April 10, ranking fourth in offense (118.2 points per 100 possessions), first in defense (106 points allowed per 100 possessions), second in net rating (12.1), and third true shooting percentage (60.3 percent).
A lot rides on Kawhi Leonard being at, or at least close to 100 percent for the Clippers. He sat the last eight games of the season with right knee inflammation and remains questionable for Game 1. Los Angeles went 7-7 in 2023-24 SU without Leonard available, including three-straight defeats from April 10 through 14.
Even if Leonard can go a full seven games if necessary, Dallas' momentum has it in a tier of its own that has purists talking about them as a potential contender to dethrone Denver. Doncic is the best player in the series, the Mavericks' defense has improved immensely, especially around the basket, and the depth is there to allocate time for Doncic and Irving to get ample rest and keep their legs fresh.
This may be the most competitive series of the bunch, and should a Game 7 come, Dallas can win on the road and stun Los Angeles in its backyard after finishing with an identical road record to that of the Clippers' home record at 25-16.
