Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Clippers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/20/2018

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Dallas Mavericks head to Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, December 20, 2018. The opening line for this game has Los Angeles as 3 point favorites.

The Mavericks head into this matchup with a mark of 15-14. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 1.2 as they average 109.9 points per contest while giving up 108.7 per game. The Clippers have an overall mark of 17-13. They currently are 3rd in the Pacific Division. They total 114.4 points per contest and give up 114.1, which is a point differential of 0.3.

Valuable Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 17-11-0 against the spread this season

The Dallas Mavericks are 14-14-0 against the over/under this year

Important Los Angeles Clippers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Clippers are 16-14-0 against the spread this season

The Los Angeles Clippers are 18-11-0 against the over/under this year

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

12/18/18 PG Dennis Smith Jr. Wrist is downgraded to out Tuesday vs Denver
12/18/18 PG J.J. Barea Ankle is upgraded to probable Tuesday vs Denver
12/18/18 F Maxi Kleber Toe is out Tuesday vs Denver

Key Los Angeles Clippers Injuries

12/11/18 G Lou Williams Hamstring is out indefinitely
11/29/18 F Luc Mbah a Moute Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Luka Doncic comes into this game averaging 18.4 points per contest while playing 32.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 6.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is 77%. Harrison Barnes averages 18.2 points per contest in 31.6 minutes per game. He averages 1.1 assists per game and 4.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Tobias Harris scores 21.5 points per contest while playing 34.7 minutes per game. He hauls in 8.2 rebounds per contest and has 2.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. Danilo Gallinari averages 19.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 31.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.0 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 92%.

Useful Team Statistics

Dallas averages 109.9 points per contest, which is 18th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 1.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 17th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 20th in the NBA. They average 45.4 boards per contest and 22.8 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 3rd with 15.6 per game. The Mavericks allow 108.7 points per contest, which is 11th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 18th and 20th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.4 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd, and they allow 23.9 assists per game which puts them in 15th place in the league. They force 14.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 21st in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 6th in the NBA with 114.4 points per contest this season. They are 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 0.3. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 4th in the league. They are 11th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.7 boards per contest and 24th in assists per game with 22.3. The Clippers are 14th in turnovers per contest with 14.3. The Clippers give up 114.1 points per game, which ranks them 25th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 13th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 17th with 24.1 dimes allowed per game and 20th with 45.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Clippers are 1st in the league in forcing turnovers with 11.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Mavericks are 17th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.8, and their defensive rating of 108.6 is ranked 12th. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 99.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 12th. As a team they are 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 5th in the league. Dallas is 5th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 12th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 14th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 24th in the league. The Clippers are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.2, and their defensive rating of 111.9 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 9th in the league with 100.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 17th. As a team they are 4th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 29th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Mavericks/Clippers NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Dallas +3

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