The Dallas Mavericks ran into a brick wall against one of the league’s hottest teams in the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. They get another tough cookie to crack when they visit Staples Center against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. Can the Mavs slow down Blake Griffin and Co. on the road? Read on as we give you everything you’ll need to know heading into this game between two of the West’s power houses.
The weekend is absolutely loaded with sports action. Check out our preview for the NHL’s Penguins vs. Canadiens as well as our complete picks for the NFL Playoffs’ Divisional Round ahead of a fun-filled weekend.
Tyson Chandler is a consistently strong player on the boards. He has averaged 15.2 rebounds in the last five games he played. Chandler had 15 of the Mavs’ 43 rebounds against Detroit on Wednesday. However, the Dallas center didn’t get the support he needed from his teammates as the Mavs dropped a 108-95 decision.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Dirk Nowitzki missed all three of his three-pointers against Detroit, while Chandler Parsons shot just .385 from the field. They can put their bad night on the floor quickly behind them as Los Angeles has allowed opponents to shoot with a 45.5 percent clip, 20th in the league.
Monta Ellis should also have a good night from the field. He has averaged 19.3 points in January. The key for Ellis is to repeatedly find the open lanes to drive toward the basket. The Clippers have committed fouls on 19.3 percent of their defensive plays, which should bring Ellis to the free-throw line on multiple occasions. Ellis has hit 85 percent of his free throws over the last four games. Getting Los Angeles’ starters in early foul trouble should also help release the defensive pressure on Dallas.
Directing the Mavs’ offense will be point guard Rajon Rondo. His excellent playmaking should help in finding the open man in Dallas’ second ranked offense (109.1 points per game). Rondo has averaged 8.2 dimes per game since being traded to the Mavs.
The total has gone over in the last five matchups between the Mavs and Clippers.
Betting on the Los Angeles Clippers
High-octane scoring and excellent ball movement led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-89 rout of the Lakers in their last outing. Blake Griffin just missed a triple-double finishing with 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Chris Paul had a double-double, racking up 24 points and 11 dimes. All five Clippers starters scored in double digits as Matt Barnes added 19, J.J. Redick 10, and DeAndre Jordan had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Clippers’ high-scoring ways may continue especially against Dallas’ defense, which has allowed 102 points per game, 23rd in the league. Paul, in particular, should be able to sink in several timely threes after going 4-for-6 from downtown against the Lakers. The Mavs rank as the third worst three-point field goal defense (.378) in the league.
Los Angeles should also have success in the paint against Dallas. The Mavs allowed 56 points in paint against the Pistons on Wednesday night. The Clippers have two dominant big men in Griffin and Jordan to attack the basket. Griffin has hit 58 percent of his shots in the paint, while Jordan has shot with a whopping .717 clip from the shaded area.
The Clippers have won three of their last four games with two to three days of rest.
Writer’s Prediction
Take the Mavs to cover in a closely-contested game. Got a different prediction? Create a betting account now and put your bet to the test.
