LA CLIPPERS @ DALLAS (DAL -4.5, 211.5)
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CLIPPERS VS. MAVERICKS 4/26/24
The Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks square off in Game 3 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round playoff series tonight in Texas. It's a chance for either team to find some consistency from beyond the three-point arc to take the lead in the series.
The Mavericks won 96-93 on the road on Tuesday to even the series 1-1, and they did it with a lot more production from their supporting cast. For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have taken center stage in the first two games, contributing to over 60% of Dallas' scoring.
However, in the rematch victory, P.J. Washington (18 points) and Derrick Jones Jr. (10) combined to shoot 9-for-16. That was in contrast to Game 1, when Doncic had 33 and Irving 31 but the rest of the team shot just 10-for-36 in a 109-97 loss.
Doncic scored 32 points and Irving added 23 as the pair combined to shoot 19-of-44 overall and 9-of-22 from three-point range. The two Mavs stars combined for nine fewer points, but the result was much better for Dallas. Dallas's supporting cast improved, particularly from beyond the arc, going from 3-for-15 in the first game to 5-for-11 on Tuesday.
While Dallas improved its three-point shooting in Game 2 - 42.4 percent compared to 30.3 in Game 1 - the Clippers went from 50 percent in Game 1 to 26.7 percent from behind the arc in Game 2. In Game 1, the Clippers outscored Dallas 54-30 from three. The Mavs outscored LA 42-24 from three in Game 2.
The return of Kawhi Leonard, who had missed nine straight games, including the series opener, was one major difference for the Clippers. After a lengthy absence, Leonard acknowledged he wasn't at his best and he missed all five of his three-point attempts in a 15-point performance in Game 2.
The Clippers have scored more points in the series thanks to James Harden (25.0 ppg) and Paul George (22 points per game). However, Los Angeles saw a decrease in scoring from Ivica Zubac who went from scoring 20 points to 13. Terance Mann scored 13 points in Game 1 but just 5 in Game 2, and Russell Westbrook from 13 to 7.
The teams split the two regular season meetings in Dallas. In the most recent game in Dallas, a 120-111 Clippers victory in December, Leonard scored 30 points.
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FREE PICK: PJ WASHINGTON OVER 5.5 REBOUNDS
Washington has cleared this prop in both games of the series so far. He had 7 boards in Game 1 and 6 more in Game 2. He’s been a very active rebounder, especially on the offensive end as the Clippers have been sending two defenders against on-ball screens for Luka Doncic. Washington has gone Over this number in 5 of his last 6 games and 10 of his last 12. Washington averaged 5.6 rebounds per game during the regular season and in his lone regular season game against LA, he had 8 boards.
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