In a rematch of their 2020 Western Conference Quarterfinals series, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers will once again lock horns in the first round of the NBA Playoffs this season. This year’s matchup occupies the 4-5 placeholder in the postseason bracket. The oddsmakers have sided with the higher seed and home team as the Game 1 favorite. This NBA betting preview for the Mavericks vs Clippers NBA Playoffs matchup will provide game info, betting trends, odds and a prediction for Game 1 of this series.
Mavericks vs Clippers Game Info
NBA Western Conference Quarterfinals NBA Playoffs Game 1
Dallas Mavericks (42-30, 21-15 Away) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (47-25, 26-10 Home)
Date: Saturday, May 22, 2021
Start Time: 4:30 p.m. EST
Venue: STAPLES Center — Los Angeles, CA
Coverage: ESPN
The Mavericks 2020-21 season did not get off to a great start. Star point guard Luka Doncic was viewed as a favorite to win the NBA MVP Award coming into the year. Those discussions seemed to dry up in a hurry as Dallas struggled out of the gates. Part of it was likely due to his running mate, Kristaps Porzingis, starting the season sidelined by injury. Once he returned, things seemed to get righted around in Dallas. Despite the poor start, the Mavericks cruised to a Southwest Division title and somewhat quietly secured the 5-seed in the Western Conference bracket. The Mavs won seven of their final ten games to close out the regular season and were covering the NBA betting numbers with regularity as well.
Momentum coming into this NBA betting matchup is certainly on the Mavericks’ side given how the Clippers finished off the regular season. Los Angeles squandered the 3-seed by dropping each of their final two games. The fact that both losses came to two teams in the top-5 of the NBA Draft Lottery seeding makes it all the more surprising. That said, the Clippers clearly weren’t worried about seeding as both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George sat out the final two games. The pressure is squarely on the shoulders of that duo to carry L.A.’s ‘other team’ to the promised land. Veteran big Serge Ibaka, who won a championship alongside Leonard back when both were members of the Toronto Raptors, could prove to be a key difference-maker for the Clippers this postseason.
Mavericks vs Clippers NBA Betting Odds
Moneyline: DAL: (+195) | LAC: (-250)
Spread: DAL: +6 (-110) | LAC: -6 (-110)
Total: 217.5 — Over: (-115) | Under: (-105)
RELATED | Printable 2021 NBA Playoffs Bracket and Schedule
Mavericks vs Clippers Betting Trends
- Mavericks are 4-0 ATS in their last four road games against teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better.
- Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games against teams with a winning record.
- Clippers are 1-5 ATS in their last six playoff games as an NBA betting favorite.
- Over is 5-0 in the Mavericks’ last five games.
- Under is 6-0-2 in the Clippers’ last eight playoff games as a betting favorite.
- Under is 4-0 in the last four Mavericks vs. Clippers head-to-head matchups.
Mavericks vs Clippers Prediction
This NBA prediction uses NumberFire’s probability model. They give Los Angeles a 70.8% chance to win Game 1 of this NBA Playoffs matchup.
