DALLAS @ LA CLIPPERS (DAL -2, 215.5)
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JA CAVALIER REVIEWS
MAVERICKS VS. CLIPPERS 4/23/24
In Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, the team turned a disappointing circumstance into an advantage by going with an entirely different lineup without Kawhi Leonard.
In Game 2 of their best-of-seven series tonight, the Clippers will look to continue surprising the Dallas Mavericks. In Game 1, Los Angeles built a 29-point lead in the third quarter and cruised to a 109-97 victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Due to knee tendonitis, the No. 4 seed Clippers were missing Leonard for the ninth straight game. To change things up, they tried running the offense through Ivica Zubac early in the contest. The big man finished the game with 15 rebounds and a playoff career-high 20 points. Los Angeles' James Harden scored 28 points on 6-of-11 three-point shooting, and Paul George added 22 points on 4-of-12 three-point shooting.
Leonard is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. A final decision will likely be made prior to game time. Leonard will continue to be evaluated throughout the day. Oddsmakers have priced this one as if Leonard will not be on the floor tonight. Dallas is a two-point favorite.
Los Angeles established the tone in Game 1, particularly on defense, in the first half with 12 points and 10 rebounds from Zubac. The Mavericks were only able to score eight points in the second quarter and 30 in the first half.
It was also the lowest-scoring first half in Mavericks postseason history and the fewest points the Clippers have conceded in any half of a playoff game. Daniel Gafford was limited to three points and no rebounds by Zubac, though the Dallas center did visit the locker room for a while during the second quarter due to a rolled left ankle. Gafford played only fourteen minutes.
Doncic led Dallas with 33 points and 13 rebounds, while Irving scored 31 points. However, neither player was particularly efficient in the first half. The Mavs star pair shot a combined 5-of-19 (26.3%) from the field and 1-of-10 from three-point range.
The Mavericks' P.J. Washington scored 11 points, but no other Dallas player scored more than six as the team shot 30.3 percent from three-point range and 38.8 percent from the field overall. Dallas stayed in the game in the second quarter by limiting the Clippers to 22 points.
The Clippers, who won a first-round series in 2020 and 2021, are attempting to defeat the Mavericks in the postseason for the third time in five years. Game 1 went Under the total. That was the eighth time in nine games that the Under has cashed in games between the Clippers and Mavericks.
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FREE PICK: KYRIE IRVING OVER 34.5 PRA
In addition to his 31 points in Game 1, Irving also had 7 rebounds and 4 assists. That put him well Over this prop. Irving also went Over this number in both regular season games against the Clippers and he’s cleared this prop in 4 of his last 5 games. With Leonard unlikely to play, that makes the Clippers defense a little softer. That opens up more opportunities for Irving. Irving’s season averages put him at 35.8 PRA for the season. He should end up in that range again tonight.
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