Mavericks vs. Clippers Game 5 Updated Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions (Tuesday, August 25)

Mavericks vs. Clippers Odds

Odds updated as of Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET and via DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.

"Maybe the kid has some magic in him. My heart would love to see it. But I’m betting with my wallet."

Those were my concluding words for Sunday's Game 4 preview — one in which Luka Doncic was uncertain to play with a badly sprained ankle, and that was before Kristaps Porzingis was a surprise scratch.

Well, 43 points, 17 rebounds, 13 assists, and a walk-off game-winning step-back 3 later, and the series is now tied-up at two games apiece. My wallet paid for the Luka magic, and it was worth every penny.

This is a best-of-three series now, and the Mavericks have proven that they are no fluke. Neither team has won two in a row yet, and each game has featured plenty of back-and-forth lead changes. The series is truly up for grabs entering an absolutely pivotal Game 5 matchup on Tuesday night.

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Dallas Mavericks

Lest we forget, Luka Doncic is still nursing that sprained left ankle. But, he's listed as probable and is certainly expected to play.

However, Kristaps Porzingis' status is much more concerning. He remains questionable to play in Game 5 as he nurses a sore knee and could be another game-time decision on Tuesday. The Mavs nearly stole Game 1 after KP got ejected, and then won Game 4 without him altogether.

But don't be fooled: Porzingis is a star, and the Mavs need him out there.

Nonetheless, with or without Porzingis, this Mavericks offense is giving the Clippers all sorts of problems. Doncic has consistently been able to break down anyone LA throws at him — no small statement — and get to the basket with his herky-jerky movement. Los Angeles has offered no rim protection, and Dallas is maximizing its chances with the tried and true formula of 3s and shots at the rim.

The Mavericks' top-ranked offense from the regular season has translated to postseason play as Dallas has lit up LA for 123.5 points per game. And don't forget: Dallas has still yet to receive a full effort from both Doncic and Porzingis together for a full game.

Of course, the Mavs defense has also allowed 123.8 points per game. Dallas can't stop the Clippers; the Mavs are  going to have to keep outscoring them.

Los Angeles Clippers

Only Kawhi Leonard has consistently showed up for the Clippers this series. Heck, I'll take it a step further than that: Paul George has arguably been Dallas' second-best player.

PG is scoring only 15.3 points per game on an abysmal 29% from the field. He has been absolutely miserable and somehow seems to get worse each game. The Clippers need a different version of Playoff P if they want to win a championship, and it's becoming increasingly clear that they need a much better PG just to get out of the first round.

The rest of the Clippers role players are just that: role players. Marcus Morris had a bad Game 4, and Montezl Harrell has been bad throughout. Harrell is not back at full speed yet, and he's getting roasted by Doncic on defense.

Lou Williams had a monster 36-point performance in a losing effort in Game 4, and without Williams, the Clippers likely never would have made it to overtime. Reggie Jackson and Landry Shamet continue to be unreliable at best, and Patrick Beverley is doubtful for Game 5 without a clear timetable for his return.

The Clippers don't know who their best five are right now, and one of the two players they should be able to trust is killing them. I wonder if they'll tilt toward guys like Morris and JaMychal Green — who are steadier on defense — and ask Kawhi to pick up the scoring slack.

Lou Will, Harrell, and RJax are just hurting the team too much defensively. Doncic seeks and destroys.

Betting Analysis

It's getting harder and harder to know what to expect from these two teams. Luka Doncic has been the best player in the series, and that is one heck of a statement considering the guys in red and blue.

Still, I'm not convinced we'll see Porzingis, and he hasn't played well through injuries in the past. His potential absence puts an awful lot of pressure on Doncic and the Mavericks' shooters. Meanwhile, the Clippers still bring a whole lot of firepower to the battle every night.

These games have been extremely streaky. The Mavs trailed by 21 early in the second quarter of Game 4, came back to lead by 12 in the fourth quarter, then eked out a win in overtime.

No lead has been safe through four games. So, in lieu of taking a pregame side, I'm instead looking to live-bet either team that digs itself into an early double-digit hole.

As of Monday at 11:45 p.m. ET, the Mavericks are listed as +240 underdogs. They could easily rise to +350 or above in-game with an early deficit. LA is -260 but could get close to even odds if they fall behind. I'm looking to live-bet either side that trails big, believing this game will be close. You might even be able to hit both sides and middle this thing.

For now, I'm not picking a side, and I'll just ride the scoring wave and play the over 236. These teams' combined scoring has increased in each game of the series: from 228 points in Game 1 to 241, 252 and 268 points in each of the subsequent games, respectively. Keep on scoring, fellas!

I'll play the over up to 238 and keep an eye on those live odds swings.

The Pick: Over 236 points

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