historical item
Over the past five games, the Clippers have a good record against the spread, going 3-2. The team's average scoring difference in these contests is 3 points per game. Dallas and Los Angeles averaged 223 points per game in those games, resulting in a 1-4 over-under mark.
analysis
Dallas enters the game as the NBA's third-best three-point shooting team, making 14.6 threes per game. However, their 3-point shooting percentage remains 14th at 36%. Overall, the Mavericks are his 6th highest scoring team with 117.9 points per game. Luka Doncic is averaging 33.9 points and 9.8 assists this season. He's averaging 33.7 points, 8.3 assists and 11.3 rebounds over the last three games.
Looking at Kyrie Irving's last three games, he has made 54.2% of his shots from the field and 45.5% of his threes. This led to him averaging 24.7 points per game during this period. He is averaging 25.6 points and 5.2 assists this season. Daniel Gafford has made 84.6% of his shots from the field over the last four games.
This season, the Mavericks are allowing 115.6 points per game, which ranks 20th in the NBA. When playing on the road, they allow 116.1 points per game (19th).
Over the past five games, opposing offenses have allowed 109.4 points per game against Dallas (15th). During this stretch, the Mavericks have done a good job of keeping opponents away from the free throw line, making just 12 free throws per game (4th).
So far this season, against Dallas (on the 20th), opposing offenses have made 13.2 3-point shots per game. In terms of shooting percentage, the Mavericks rank 20th in the NBA, allowing opponents to shoot 47.6% from the field and 36.9% from three.
Los Angeles is averaging 115.6 points per game this season, ranking 12th in the league. Their home average of 115.2 points per game ranks 15th in the NBA. Despite pacing in the bottom half of the league, the Clippers are an efficient team, ranking sixth in field goal percentage and fourth in 3-point shooting percentage.
Bones-Highland is averaging 21.3 points per game over the last five games and hitting 45.5 percent from the field in that span. He also averaged 5.7 assists and 6 rebounds in those games. The Clippers could be without Kawhi Leonard, who is questionable with a knee injury. Leonard is averaging 23.7 points per game this season.
At home, the Clippers' defense is allowing 112.0 points per game, which ranks 15th in the NBA. Overall, he ranks 10th in the league in points allowed per contest at 112.2.
Over the last five games, Los Angeles has been even more stingy, allowing just 107.8 points per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA over that span. During this period, they were particularly tough on his 3-point shooting, with opponents shooting just 27% from beyond the arc.
Opponents are making 12.8 threes per game against the Clippers this season, which ranks 14th in the league. Overall, the team shot 46.8% from the field against Los Angeles, ranking 12th in the NBA.
Betting trends
- Dallas has a straight record of 2-3 in their last five road games, but hasn't held up as well against the spread at 2-3. In these games, the team averaged 104 points per game.
- Through their last three home games, Los Angeles is just 1-2 ATS. However, his overall record was 2 wins and 1 loss, averaging 110 points per game.
- Going back to their last three games as underdogs, Los Angeles is 1-2 with straight wins while their ATS mark is 1-2.
- As the betting favorite, the Mavericks are just 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games. Dallas had a good record in these matchups with 7 wins and 3 losses.
Joe's Picks to Cover the Spread
The Clippers held Dallas to just eight points in the second quarter and cruised to victory in Game 1 of this series. Now, heading into Game 2, the Mavs are the favorites by just 2 points. I'm expecting a big game from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in this game, and I'm hoping Dallas takes Game 2 and covers the spread as a -2 point favorite.
