The Los Angeles Clippers will be fighting for their NBA title hopes this Saturday, as they take on the Dallas Mavericks, who are just a win away from getting rid of James Harden and company. Will the Clippers steal a win in Dallas? Or, will the Mavs send LA to Cancun?
Catch this game live on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 9:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Los Angeles Clippers (2-3)
Projected Starting Five:
- James Harden
- Terance Mann
- Paul George
- Amir Coffey
- Ivica Zubac
Just when it was getting clear that James Harden could still score with the best of them, the former NBA MVP fell back down to Earth in Game 5’s 123-93 Clippers loss at home. After scoring 33 points in Game 4, Harden coughed up just seven points on a salty 2/12 shooting from the field and 1/7 from deep in Game 5.
But one poor shooting night for Harden is not enough for the Clippers to lose their trust in him. They still need Harden to keep shooting, especially since Kawhi Leonard is still sidelined. Paul George also struggled with consistency in Game 5, going only 4/13 for 15 points, but like Harden, he can’t go gunshy. Otherwise, that would mean more shots for Russell Westbrook, who is one of the last guys the Clippers would love to see taking jump shots, as he is shooting just 25.6 FG% in the series.
The Clippers have won eight of their last 10 games on the road, dating back to the regular season.
Home: Dallas Mavericks (3-2)
Projected Starting Five:
- Luka Doncic
- Kyrie Irving
- Derrick Jones Jr.
- P.J. Washington
- Daniel Gafford
Despite a sprained right knee, Luka Doncic managed to light it up from the field in Game 5, as he powered the Mavs with 35 points on 14/26 shooting. Doncic may still be dealing with the same knee issue, but he’s proven he can deliver even though he’s not at 100%. The Mavericks have to capitalize on the absence of Leonard, the Clippers’ best perimeter defender, so expect them to continue thriving with Doncic and Kyrie Irving enjoying high usages.
Irving only had 14 points in Game 5, but he didn’t have to do much because the Mavs’ supporting cast answered the call with Maxi Kleber and Dereck Lively chipping in 27 points combined off the bench while Derrick Jones Jr. added 12 points as part of the starting unit. The Mavs are also getting a lot of freebies in the series. So far in the playoffs, they’re third overall with 24.8 free-throw attempts per game while LA is just 109th with 19.6 a game.
Picks
Spread: Dallas Mavericks (-8.0)
Over/Under: Over (206.5)
