Clippers Shoot For Two-Game Sweep In Dallas

Los Angeles (26-15 SU, 22-19 ATS) rebounded from an embarrassing loss to the Pelicans with Monday’s 109-99 win over the Mavs (20-18, 17-21). The Clippers, who opened as 3-point favorites for Wednesday’s rematch with Dallas, have covered the spread in nine of the last 12 meetings.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

After seeing the Clippers win by double digits Monday as 1.5-point favorites, oddsmakers bumped the Sportsbook line up to 3 for the rematch. They also adjusted the total down a couple of points after the teams combined to score 208 points Monday, going UNDER the total by 21.

Los Angeles News & Notes

One day after getting torched for 135 points in a loss to the Pelicans, LA’s defense bounced back in style by holding the Mavs to 99 on Monday. A big key to that was being able to guard without fouling as the Clippers sent Dallas to the free-throw line just five times, tying the Mavericks’ franchise record for fewest attempts in a game.

Offensively, Los Angeles enjoyed tremendous balance as seven players scored in double figures but no player scored more than Kawhi Leonard’s 23. Marcus Morris got a rare start at power forward in place of Nic Batum and scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half. Coach Ty Lue told reporters he’ll likely give Morris another start tonight.

LA was without both Patrick Beverley (knee) and Serge Ibaka (back) on Monday, forcing Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac to both record a season high in minutes. Beverley isn’t with the Clippers on their current road trip while Ibaka, who played just eight minutes Sunday before leaving due to back spasms, was listed as questionable at the time of writing.

Dallas News & Notes

Although Luka Doncic recorded his ninth triple-double of the season Monday with 25 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds, the young superstar was critical of himself after missing 14 of his 23 field-goal attempts. Several of those misses came down the stretch as Dallas didn’t score a point in the final 3:13 of regulation after whittling a 12-point deficit down to four.

Tim Hardaway continued his puzzling pattern of alternating strong shooting games with poor ones, hitting eight of 12 shots — including five three-pointers — for 21 points off the bench Monday, two days after scoring just eight points against Denver.

Hardaway’s performance mirrors the inconsistent Dallas offense, which has scored less than 100 points in three of its last 10 games. The Mavs have gone UNDER the total in eight of those 10 contests, including five straight at home.

Betting Pick: Mavericks +2.5

Dallas should be the more motivated squad following Monday’s loss, while the Clippers haven’t won or covered consecutive games since mid-February.