Clippers vs. Mavericks Game 6 Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions (Sunday, August 30)

Clippers vs. Mavericks Odds

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The optimist might have thought the players' strike gave Dallas second life. A short break seemed like it was just what this young team needed to catch its breath after a 154-111 beatdown in Game 5. More importantly, it served as a chance to let Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis heal after suffering injuries.

Then, news came Friday that Porzingis has a torn meniscus and will miss the remainder of the playoffs. Now, Dallas is down 3-2 to a rested Clippers team that features a rejuvenated Paul George.

Things certainly look grim for the Mavs. But they looked grim in Game 4, too, when Porzingis missed time and Doncic played on a rusty ankle. But then Luka went out and put up 43 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists and hit the game-winning stepback 3 in overtime to give us the moment of the playoffs.

So, anything is possible.

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Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are still rounding into shape, but they look a lot closer now than they did when the series opened two weeks ago.

Los Angeles, helped by a questionable Porzingis ejection, was a bit lucky to win Game 1. LA scored 118 that game and 114 in a Game 2 loss. But it has really gotten the offense going since then, increasing its scoring output to 130, 133, and an outlandish 154 in the three games since. That's a tidy 129.8 PPG for the series. Not bad for a team that's really had one good game each from Paul George, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell.

LA's defense is another story. It has allowed 121.0 PPG to a team that never even got a full effort from both Doncic and Porzingis in any game. Doncic is hunting matchups and picking Lou Williams and Reggie Jackson apart. But LA has proven it can score at will on Dallas. Can the Mavs keep up without KP?

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have built their entire roster around two superstars with a lot of other players filling their roles admirably around the roster. Take Porzingis out of the equation, and this is all on Doncic.

Now, on the one hand, that's not the worst thing in the world. Doncic looks like a future MVP, so asking him to create a shot every single time down the floor is not the worst strategy anyone's ever come up with, especially with a rested ankle. On the other hand, can Doncic really beat a title favorite on his own twice more?

Dallas has seen Seth Curry and Trey Burke shoot out of their minds in this series, but regression is surely on the way. The Mavs have no defensive answer for LA unless Paul George disappears again. Dallas can only hope to beat the Clippers in a track meet now, and that's a tough ask for eight more quarters.

Betting Analysis

I learned the hard way not to count Luka Doncic out in Game 4. I'll be darned if I'm betting against him keeping this competitive in the same spot here. The Clippers should have what they need to finish off this series now, but it wouldn't be totally outlandish to see Dallas make one more push.

The one thing I don't think Dallas can do is slow down this Clipper offense. LA isn't going to score 154 in regulation again, but the Clips have scored 130 in three straight. I'm grabbing the Clippers team total Over 124.5. That's a heck of a line in a playoff game, but I just don't see any defensive answers to be found on that Mavericks roster. Luka might be a miracle man, but even he can't learn how to play defense overnight.

I'll play the Clippers over up to 126. There's no stopping them now.

The Pick: Clippers Over 124.5 (up to 126)

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