Mavericks vs Clippers Game 5 Preview: Road Win Trend Should End Tonight As Kawhi, Clippers Eye Series Lead

Four games of the Mavericks vs Clippers series, four road wins. Will that trend continue in tonight’s Game 5, or will the Clippers take care of business at home to take a series lead?

Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and the Clippers were in a world of trouble after consecutive home losses to open the series. But the Western Conference’s #4 seed responded with their backs against the wall in Dallas. They won two in a row at the American Airlines Center to level the series, with Leonard continuing his series-long excellence.

Based on the way the series is going, it appears destined for seven games. But which team will move within a win of the second round tonight? The momentum is with the Clippers, but Luka Doncic and the Mavs will not be short on confidence thanks to their two wins in Los Angeles.

Dallas Mavericks (2-2) vs Los Angeles Clippers (2-2), TNT, 10:00 pm ET

Mavericks vs Clippers Series Schedule and Results

• Saturday, May 22 | Game 1 (at Los Angeles): Mavericks 113-103 Clippers
• Tuesday, May 25 | Game 2 (at Los Angeles): Mavericks 127-121 Clippers
• Friday, May 28 | Game 3 (at Dallas): Clippers 118-108 Mavericks
• Sunday, May 30 | Game 4 (at Dallas): Clippers 106-81 Mavericks
• Wednesday, June 2 | Game 5 (at Los Angeles): Mavericks vs Clippers, TNT, 10:00 pm ET
• Friday, June 4 | Game 6 (at Dallas): Clippers vs Mavericks, TBD, TBD
• Sunday, June 6 | Game 7 (at Los Angeles): Mavericks vs Clippers, TBD, TBD (if necessary)

Mavericks vs Clippers Series Odds

Odds to Win the Series

• Dallas Mavericks +290
• Los Angeles Clippers -385

Series Correct Score Odds

• Mavericks 4-2 +650
• 4-3 Mavericks +460
• Clippers 4-2 +115
• 4-3 Clippers +185

Mavericks vs Clippers Game 5 Betting Odds

• Spread: Mavericks +7.5 (-110), Clippers -7.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 217.5 (-110), UNDER 217.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Mavericks +275, Clippers -340

Mavericks vs Clippers Game 5 Betting Consensus

• Spread: 70% Mavericks, 30% Clippers (at +/-7.5)
• Total: 90% OVER, 10% UNDER (at O/U 217.5)
• Moneyline: 10% Mavericks, 90% Clippers

Mavericks vs Clippers odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Wednesday, June 2 at 9:55 am ET. For more NBA betting odds, check out our NBA odds page. It features updated odds from BetOnline and other top online sportsbooks.

Betting News uses an aggregation of picks from reputable industry sources for all NBA, MLB, and NHL games that are previewed on the site. For detailed Mavericks vs Clippers betting information, including a source-by-source betting picks breakdown, check out the Mavericks vs Clippers matchup page.

Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Clippers Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Will the Home Team Hold Serve for the First Time Tonight?

Road teams have fared well on the Western Conference side of the bracket thus far, and this series has been the best example of that. Through 18 games across the four series, road teams are 11-7 SU and ATS. The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns both won and covered last night, which takes a little of the shine off. But it is still impressive nonetheless.

Is that trend going to continue tonight at Staples Center? Going back to the regular season, the Clippers have lost three home games in a row. That is the first and only time that has happened this season. Also, it is the only time that has occurred over their two seasons with Leonard and George on the roster. They did lose three games in a row as the designated home team in last season’s Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets, but that doesn’t count since it was in the bubble and not at Staples.

Whether or not the Clippers return to winning ways at home tonight is likely to depend on one factor: defense.

In Games 1 and 2, the Mavericks shot 54.4 percent (86 of 158) from the field and totaled 47 assists.

In Games 3 and 4 in Dallas, the Mavericks shot only 44.5 percent (69 of 155) from the field and totaled 32 assists. Dallas did make 20 of 39 from three in Game 3, but that success was negated by the atrocious two-point shooting that was mentioned in the Game 4 preview.

If the Clippers can have that defensive success again tonight, can the Mavericks match it? In Game 1, they held the Clippers to only 44 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three. But that is the high point.

Will Kawhi Continue His Stellar Series?

It’s been an excellent series for Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging 33 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per game in the series. He didn’t have his best shooting performance in the Game 1 loss, shooting 9 of 22 from the field overall and making only one of six from three. But after missing 13 shots in Game 1, he has missed 15 total shots (in 53) attempts in the last three games. This is the time when superstars are supposed to deliver, and he is doing just that.

Speaking of superstars, the Mavs will need a bounce-back performance by Luka Doncic to have a chance tonight. Based on his Game 3 production while injured, it didn’t seem likely that he would have any issues in Game 4. But he struggled mightily, making only 9 of 24 shots from the field (1 of 7 from three), and he missed all five of his free throws. The rest of the team couldn’t pick up the slack, and it is clear that he will need to return to form in order for tonight to not be another blowout.

We should see a much better performance by Doncic tonight, if for no other reason than the Mavs need it. He has been upgraded from questionable to probable, though that is no indication of how much his neck may still be affecting him.

But will any Doncic heroics be enough to steal another one at Staples? The Mavs are a strong spread play, but the Clippers are the overwhelming moneyline play.

Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Clippers Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More