Anthony Davis is slated to suit up tonight, which should give the Mavs enough on both ends of the court to cover the massive number.
Kenny Ducey • Betting Analyst
Apr 5, 2025 • 15:25 ET • 4 min read
The Dallas Mavericks had taken six of their last eight games prior to falling to the LA Clippers on Friday, but now that two key players are set to return to the lineup, their defense should once again have the opportunity to shine.
My Mavericks vs. Clippers predictions will cover how the strengths of Dallas should level the playing field while its offense picks back up as the roster heals.
Let’s dig into some NBA player props and hand out some NBA picks on Saturday, April 5.
Mavericks vs Clippers prediction
My best bet: Dallas Mavericks +11 (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
We lauded the Dallas Mavericks’ defense yesterday as we previewed the first of two games between these teams, and they somewhat did their job in recording a 115.2 defensive rating and finishing under the implied total.
We didn’t get the chance to see Anthony Davis, who sat that one out due to injury, along with Dereck Lively II. Those two are looking good to play on Saturday while this team continues to search for offense without the injured Kyrie Irving.
I think we’ll see much of the same from Dallas here. It has a solid look on defense, ranking ninth over the past two weeks, and while it slipped a bit at the rim on Friday, we can excuse that, given it had two bigs missing in action.
The Mavericks still do a great job against long mid-range jumpers, a shot the Los Angeles Clippers love. While they’ve been somewhat mediocre against the 3, it’s not as if LA shoots a ton from the perimeter.
The Clippers once again shot well from outside on Friday, following up on a good showing versus the Pelicans. However, they took just around 28% of their looks from beyond the arc, which is an incredibly low number.
They did their damage inside, and their mid-range shooters, James Harden and Norman Powell, had bad nights.
With Davis and Lively returning, I’m confident that Dallas will look even better on defense as they push to make this one close. Like the Clippers, the Mavericks have shied away from shooting the 3 with Luka Doncic now playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and Irving nursing an injury.
This battle will be concentrated to the interior, and with Dallas ranking eighth in rim shooting and 11th in the mid-range, it has a decent enough chance of breaking down LA’s defenses while holding strong against a slumping offense.
Mavericks vs Clippers same-game parlay
Dallas Mavericks +8.5Spencer Dinwiddie Over 19.5 Points & Assists
Ivica Zubac Over 17.5 Points
We’re going to keep things more or less the same as yesterday despite falling short by a narrow margin on all three legs. We weren’t quite sure Davis would miss that one, and now that he’ll be back in the mix, I feel just as good about these legs.
The Clippers entered that one, allowing assists at a top-10 clip per 100 possessions, and while Spencer Dinwiddie managed just four, he played only 29 minutes in the blowout. He’d come up with at least eight in three straight, and what I like just as much about him in this spot is his tendency to shoot plenty from the short mid-range.
That’s where we’ll find the softest spot in two solid defenses; both sit bottom 10 in field goal percentage allowed in the zone over the last two weeks. Dinwiddie does a ton of shooting there as a guard, and Zubac is among the most trigger-happy of all centers in the area.
He’s taken on a large role offensively for this team, getting 14 shots away on Friday – the second most on the team – and coming off a month where he dropped 20 points per game he should be quite active.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365’s offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Mavericks vs Clippers odds
Mavericks vs Clippers live odds
Mavericks vs Clippers opening odds
- Spread: Dallas +6.5 (-110) | Los Angeles -6.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Dallas +220 | Los Angeles -270
- Over/Under: Over 224 (-110) | Under 224 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Mavericks vs Clippers spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Mavericks are an impressive 14-14-1 against the spread as road underdogs despite going 37-39-2 in all games.
- The Clippers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11.
- The Over has cashed in 67.9% of Dallas’ 28 games played as road dogs.
- LA is just 18-20 to the Over at home this season and 10-14-1 as a home favorite.
Mavericks vs Clippers trend
The Dallas Mavericks have hit the Game Total Over in 25 of their last 39 away games (+10.70 Units / 25% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Clippers.
How to watch Mavericks vs Clippers
Location Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA Date Saturday, 4-5-2025 Tip-off 10:30 p.m. ET TV FanDuel Sports Network – SoCal, KFAA
Mavericks vs Clippers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
