Game 4 of the now tightly contested Mavs-Clippers series is a go. They’ll be playing in Dallas on Sunday night, with the chance to swing the series an option both ways. With a 2-1 Mavs lead, this is the chance to put their feet on the throats of their opponents. L.A. could even the series after two disastrous efforts.
L.A. should be feeling blessed to not be down 3-0. They have no size to speak of, with Ivica Zubac unable to add any positive contribution and Serge Ibaka still slowed by a bad back. Marcus Morris and Nicolas Batum have been getting most of the center minutes and Porzingis coverage, and somehow, they are starting to slowly make it work. A shocking development.
Luka Doncic is the motor that makes the Maverick go, and everybody knows it. Still just 22 years of age, he has taken the league by storm and is a player everybody has eyes on. He had beef with a number of Clippers players during last year’s series, and it’s clear nothing has changed. He is a tremendous young talent, and his NBA future is as bright as any star constellation.
Can he get help from big bigs as they try and go up 3-1?
Odds: The visiting team is favored LAC -3. The over/under is set at 221.5 points.
Clippers Looking to Pull Even
For the first time since giving himself the nickname Playoff P, Paul George is playing at the level he told us all he was capable of. He has looked tremendous through three games against the Mavs, and his efforts in game three went a long way toward giving the team a win they needed. He and Kawhi are both “stupidly” locked in right now, to quote a Miami Heat player who was just eliminated. (Cough, Jimmy, cough)
The team is getting production from Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris, and Nic Batum as well. Rajon Rondo is looking great for the team, getting key baskets, assists, and defensive stops. While they are undersized, they are doing a lot of things perfectly.
The keys to victory will be winning the 3-pt battle, keeping Luka under 30 points, and continuing to render Kristaps Porzingis ineffective.
Mavs Seeking 3-1 Lead
The craziest stat of the 2021 playoffs is this: 5’11 Facundo Campazzo, a guard for the Denver Nuggets, is averaging more rebounds per game than 7’3 Porzingis. That is something laughable, and it’s hard to believe it’s true. But it is.
KP was missing when the teams met last year, and it was big for Dallas not to have him. Now that he’s playing, it almost seems to be better if he wasn’t. The Mavs haven’t been able to exploit his major size advantage, and Porzingis hasn’t been able to score much. They need his production.
To get a win, Dallas needs Luka to have another dominant game. They need Kleber and KP to hit their threes. And, they need to make anybody besides PG and Kawhi beat them.
Clippers Pull Even
Two road wins in a row. It’s official. The Clippers have come back from the brink and tied the series. They also recaptured home-court advantage.
FREE PLAY: LAC -3
OVER/UNDER: OVER 221.5
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