Clippers vs. Mavs Betting Line

The Clippers vs. Mavs betting line for Monday was available at Sportsbook.ag.

Sportsbook.ag Line: Dallas -8.5, Total: 208

The Clippers look to avoid a five-game losing streak with a win over the Mavericks in Dallas on Monday.

Los Angeles went into Oklahoma City on Sunday and the team lost 131-108 as seven-point road underdogs. The Clippers have now lost four straight games and they’ve also failed to cover in each of them. Their defense has been the real problem lately, as Los Angeles is now allowing 115.3 PPG over its past four games. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have now won-and-covered in two straight and they have also won five of their past six games SU.

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These two teams have met just once this season and the Clippers won that game 120-100 as 3.5-point favorites at Staples Center. In the past five meetings between these teams, the Clippers are 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS. Los Angeles has also won-and-covered in two straight games in Dallas and three of its past four as well. The past three games between these teams in Dallas have gone Over the total.

The Clippers are 3-12 ATS this season after playing a game with a combined score of 215 points or more. They are, however, 5-2 ATS over the past three seasons after having lost four of their past five games. The Mavericks are 3-0 ATS this season when revenging a road loss of 10 points or more versus an opponent. PF Blake Griffin (Elbow) and SG J.J. Redick (Back) are both out indefinitely for the Clippers and PG Rajon Rondo (Facial) is out indefinitely for the Mavericks. PF Glen Davis (Back) is listed as questionable for Los Angeles in this one.

The Clippers have been playing some miserable basketball lately and they’ll now need to move forward without PF Blake Griffin (22.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 5.1 APG), who needs elbow surgery and is out indefinitely.

PF Spencer Hawes (6.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG) is the player who will see the most minutes in the Clippers’ power forward spot now. Hawes played 35 minutes against Oklahoma City and had 17 points, but he did only grab one rebound. Hawes isn’t nearly as athletic as Griffin, but he does have a very nice outside shot (34% 3PT). He’ll stretch the defense out and add some more shot-blocking to this team, but the Clippers will really need C DeAndre Jordan (10.3 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.3 BPG) to make up for the rebounding they’re losing with Griffin out. Jordan is averaging just 8.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG over the past two contests and he will need to be much more effective than that if the Clippers are going to stay afloat.

PG Chris Paul (17.7 PPG, 9.6 APG, 4.8 RPG, 1.9 SPG) played well against the Thunder, finishing with 18 points, 13 assists and six rebounds in 36 minutes. He also added three steals in the game. With Griffin out, Los Angeles will need Paul to be more aggressive as a scorer and he should be up for the task. He has a great matchup in this game, facing a Mavericks team that is depleted at the point guard position.

SG Jamal Crawford (15.8 PPG, 2.6 APG) is averaging 20.5 PPG over the past two contests and he will need to do a lot of the same until SG J.J. Redick (14.4 PPG) returns from injury. There is even more pressure on Crawford to score with Griffin out, and he’ll need to hold his own in a matchup with SG Monta Ellis (20.4 PPG, 4.6 APG, 1.8 SPG) on Monday.

The Mavericks have played very well recently, and they are doing so without PG Rajon Rondo (8.7 PPG, 8.7 APG, 1.6 SPG). PF Dirk Nowitzki (18.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG) was excellent in a win over the Blazers on Saturday, pouring in 25 points (11-for-19 FG, 3-for-6 3PT) in 35 minutes. Nowitzki should be able to have a good game against Los Angeles on Monday, as he’ll be going up against a much slower Spencer Hawes. His quickness should really give Hawes problems and the Mavericks will likely feature Nowitzki heavily in this one.

SF Chandler Parsons (15.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.3 APG) is also in a groove for Dallas lately. He’s now scored 18+ points in three of the past four games and he’s going to be facing a Clippers team that is very weak at the small forward position. Dallas would be wise to exploit its mismatch there by getting Parsons some good looks early in the game.

SG Monta Ellis is averaging 20.5 PPG and 6.0 APG over the past two contests and has played very well in Rondo’s absence for this team. Ellis has scored 20+ points in four of the past five games and he’ll need to play well in this one as well. He will be guarded by Jamal Crawford for a majority of this game and should be able to light him up, as Crawford is not a good defender.

PG J.J. Barea (7.3 PPG, 3.3 APG) has filled in well for Rondo, averaging 10.4 PPG, 5.0 APG and 3.4 RPG in 28.0 MPG over the past five games. He’s had 5+ assists in each of the past four and is running the offense very well. This game will be a challenge though, as he’ll be up against Chris Paul. If Barea can come close to holding his own then Dallas should be able to come away with a victory.

- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter