The Los Angeles Clippers (16-12) travel to face off against the Dallas Mavericks (17-10) on Saturday, December 21st. This game will be played at American Airlines Center in Dallas and televised on KFAA. The Clippers are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Mavericks are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Mavericks. Tip-off is set for 8:30 ET.

Clippers vs Mavericks

The Clippers Are Coming Off A Win

The Clippers improved to 16-12 this season with a 118-95 win over the Mavericks on Thursday. Los Angeles, who were +1.5 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread. The total score of 213 points fell just short of the 217-point over/under line.

After trailing 30-24 after the 1st quarter, the Clippers went on a 10-0 run to take the lead, and they outscored Dallas 26-19 in the 2nd quarter. Los Angeles then pulled away, winning the 3rd quarter 39-28 and closing out the game by holding the Mavericks to 18 points in the 4th quarter.

The Mavericks Are Coming Off A 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 the game but also failed to cover the spread. The combined score of 213 points came in just under the 217-point total 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 then outscored the Mavericks 26-19 in the 2nd quarter, 39-28 in the 3rd, and 29-18 in the 4th.

Clippers Offense Breakdown

Norman Powell led the Clippers to a win over the Mavericks, scoring 29 points and hitting 4 threes at 50% shooting from deep. James Harden added 24 points, while Ivica Zubac contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 76.9% from the field.

The Clippers hit 14 threes at a 42.4% rate, finishing with a 51.8% overall shooting percentage. Powell scored 10 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters, while Amir Coffey added 9 of his 16 points in the 3rd.

Mavericks Offense Breakdown

In their 118-95 loss to the Clippers, the Mavericks struggled offensively, shooting just 39.5% from the field and hitting only 7 threes at a 23.3% clip. Klay Thompson led the way with 22 points, while Spencer Dinwiddie added 19, scoring 8 in the 3rd quarter.

P.J. Washington contributed 14 points, making 3 threes at a 75% rate, and grabbing 9 rebounds. Quentin Grimes chipped in 11 points, with 6 coming in the opening quarter.

Clippers Team Defense

The Clippers put on a defensive clinic on Thursday, holding the Mavericks to just 95 points on 39% shooting. After a shaky 1st quarter where they allowed 30 points, the Clippers tightened up, giving up just 19 points in the 2nd and 18 in the 4th.

Los Angeles was particularly effective at defending the three, limiting Dallas to 7 made threes on 23% shooting. The Clippers also grabbed 39 defensive rebounds, allowed 8 offensive boards, and added 9 steals.

Mavericks Team Defense

The Clippers’ defense was solid against the Mavericks, holding them to just 95 points on Thursday. They gave up 30 points in the 1st quarter but tightened up in the 2nd, allowing only 19 points. In the 4th quarter, they put the clamps on, giving up just 18 points to secure the win.

Overall, the Clippers held the Mavericks to 39% shooting, including just 23% from three-point range, with Dallas making only 7 threes. The Clippers also recorded 9 steals and 3 blocks in the game.

Clippers vs Mavericks Trends

• Across their last five road contests, Los Angeles has a 3-2 record vs the spread. Their overall mark in these games was 2-3, while averaging 104 points per game.
• Through their last three home contests, the Mavericks offense has averaged 124 points per game while allowing an average of 123. Dallas posted an overall record of 2-1 while going 1-2 ATS.
• Going back to their last ten games as the underdog, the Clippers have a straight up record of 5-5. But, their mark vs the spread was just 6-4.
• Dallas has done well both straight up and vs the spread when favored to win the game, going 4-1 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last five games.

Clippers vs Mavericks Prediction

As the underdogs with a spread of +2.5, we recommend going with the Clippers on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 220, and our model predicts the Clippers and Mavericks to score a combined 207 points. We recommend betting on the under.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.