Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks Preview 2024-25 NBA Regular Season — December 20, 2024
The Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks are set to face in the first game of a back-to-back this Friday. The Clippers are trying to move further away from a recent losing skid while the Mavericks aim to win the first of their four-game home stand. Will the Clippers score a win down in Dallas? Or, will the Mavs hit LA with a loss as a welcome?
Catch this game live on Friday, December 20, 2024 at 9:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Los Angeles Clippers (15-12, 5-6 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- James Harden
- Kris Dunn
- Norman Powell
- Nicolas Batum
- Ivica Zubac
The Clippers finally ended their three-game skid last Tuesday with a 144-107 drubbing of the lowly Utah Jazz at home. James Harden and Norman Powell took turns punching Utah in the mouth, with the former league Most Valuable Player lighting up the scoreboard with 41 points on 11-for-17 shooting with seven 3-pointers on 11 attempts. Powell, meanwhile had 29 points on 12-for-16 shooting.
Dallas’ defense isn’t going to be as leaky as Utah’s, but with Harden leading the charge, the Clippers have someone they can rely on to take over and break down the Mavs’ D. But don’t let the Clippers’ high-scoring feat in the Utah game make you forget about their defense. The Clippers are fifth in the league with just 107.8 points allowed with LA opponents also shooting only 34.3 percent from deep – sixth-best in the NBA.
The Clippers have covered the spread in seven of their last 10 visits to Dallas.
Home: Dallas Mavericks (17-9, 8-3 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- Spencer Dinwiddie
- Kyrie Irving (Questionable)
- Klay Thompson
- P.J. Washington
- Dereck Lively II
It did not take Dallas much time before it returned to its winning ways. Following a 118-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder that snapped a seven-game win streak, the Mavericks outgunned the Golden State Warriors in a shootout last Monday. In the 143-133 win over Golden State, Luka Doncic fired 45 points with 13 assists and 11 rebounds for another triple-double day at the office. Klay Thompson went full old Klay Thompson, as he splashed in 29 points with seven 3-pointers on a 9-for-14 shooting from the floor.
Kyrie Irving also chipped in 21 points. Doncic, however, is reportedly out for Friday’s game with a heel issue. Irving is also questionable with a shoulder injury. It will be a huge blow for the Mavs if both Doncic and Irving and out, but that doesn’t mean the Mavs still have weapons that can step up like Thompson, P.J. Washington, Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie. Thompson is playing better of late, having averaged 22.7 points on 54.5 FG% and 50.0 3 FG% in the last three games.
The Mavericks are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games at home.
Picks
Spread: Los Angeles Clippers (+4.5)
Over/Under: Over (225.5)
