Los Angeles Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
At 8:30 ET, the Los Angeles Clippers will travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks. The Clippers are 5th in the Western Conference and have won two straight games. The Mavericks are 4th in the West and are favored by 2.5 points.
The over/under line for this matchup is set at 220 points and can be seen on KFAA. The Clippers are +121 on the moneyline, while the Mavericks are -143. This game will take place at the American Airlines Center.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS DALLAS MAVERICKS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Los Angeles Clippers +2.5
This game will be played at American Airlines Center at 8:30 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 104-103 in favor of the Clippers.
- Our projections have James Harden finishing with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists.
- From the field, we have the Clippers finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.2% and knocking down 12 threes.
Can the Clippers Lock in a Win at Dallas?
The Clippers improved to 16-12 this season with a 118-95 road win over the Mavericks on Thursday. Los Angeles entered the game as +1.5 point underdogs and covered the spread with the 23-point victory. The game’s total points of 213 fell just short of the 217-point line.
After trailing 30-24 after the 1st quarter, the Clippers went on a 10-0 run to take the lead, going from 78-69 to 79-78. They outscored Dallas 26-19 in the 2nd quarter, 39-28 in the 3rd, and 29-18 in the 4th to close out the game.
Norman Powell led the Clippers to a 118-95 win over the Mavericks, scoring 29 points and hitting 4 threes at 50% efficiency. James Harden added 24 points, while Ivica Zubac contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 76.9% from the field.
The Clippers shot 51.8% overall and connected on 14 threes at a 42.4% rate. Powell scored 10 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters, while Amir Coffey added 9 of his 16 points in the 3rd.
The Clippers’ defense was strong on Thursday, holding the Mavericks to just 95 points. After giving up 30 points in the 1st quarter, they tightened up in the 2nd, allowing only 19. They also had a solid 4th quarter, giving up just 18 points.
Overall, the Clippers limited the Mavericks to 39% shooting, including just 7 made threes on 23% shooting. They also recorded 9 steals and 3 blocks in the game.
Are the Mavericks Ready for a Home Win?
The Mavericks fell to 17-10 on the season after a 118-95 home loss to the Clippers on Thursday. Dallas, favored by 1.5 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The combined score of 213 points fell just short of the 217-point over/under line.
Dallas started strong, leading 30-24 after the 1st quarter, but the Clippers took control with a 10-0 run, turning a 78-69 deficit into a 79-78 lead. The Clippers outscored the Mavericks 26-19 in the 2nd quarter, 39-28 in the 3rd, and 29-18 in the 4th.
The Mavericks struggled offensively in their 118-95 loss to the Clippers, shooting just 39.5% from the field and making only 7 three-pointers at a 23.3% clip. Klay Thompson led Dallas with 22 points, while Spencer Dinwiddie added 19.
P.J. Washington contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds, hitting 3 threes at 75% efficiency. Thompson hit 2 threes, shooting 22.2% from deep, and added 7 points in the 3rd quarter.
The Mavericks gave up 118 points to the Clippers, with their toughest stretch coming in the 3rd quarter, where they allowed 39 points. Dallas allowed 24 points in the 1st quarter and 26 in the 2nd, but couldn’t keep the Clippers in check in the 4th, giving up 29 points.
Defensively, the Mavericks allowed the Clippers to shoot 51% from the field, including 42% from beyond the arc, where they hit 14 threes. Dallas sent the Clippers to the line 17 times, where they converted 16 free throws. The Mavericks recorded 9 steals and 5 blocks in the game.