LA Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks Predictions, Player Props & Odds (Dec. 20)

Odds from ESPN Bet on Dec. 19, 2023. New users can claim an ESPN Bet promo to wager on LAC vs DAL.

All ESPN Bet users can take advantage of a special boosted-odds parlay : Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic both to record triple-doubles tonight (boosted from +475 to +575).

The teams have split a pair of meetings already this season with Dallas winning 144-126 at home on Nov. 10 and LA returning the favor with a 107-88 home victory on Nov. 25.

Dallas Missing Kyrie (Amongst Others)

The Mavericks will once again be without the services of Kyrie Irving (23.0 PPG, 5.2 APG) on Wednesday due to a heel injury. Joining Irving in street clothes are Dereck Lively II (8.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.6 BPG) and  Josh Green (6.9 PPG, 2.4 APG).

Already hugely reliant on Luka Doncic (32.9 PPG, 9.1 APG, 8.4 RPG), Dallas’ dependence on its MVP candidate will be even higher than usual tonight. But the Mavs have fared decently without Kyrie so far this season, going 6-3 overall and 3-2 during his current absence  with their only losses coming to the NBA-leading Timberwolves and at the reigning-champion Nuggets.

Doncic (+420 on average) is currently second to Nikola Jokic in the NBA MVP odds.

Whenever Irving is out of the lineup, there is also increased pressure on Mavs wing Tim Hardaway Jr, the only other player on the roster averaging double-figures (17.3 PPG on 36.6% from three). In the last five games without Kyrie, Dallas won all three in which Hardaway scored at least 20 points and lost the pair of games in which he did not.

Clippers Keep Win Streak Going With Offensive Explosions

LAC wrapped up its recent four-game home stand with a dominant 144-122 win over the Knicks, their highest output of the season up to that point. But that benchmark lasted exactly two days as the Clippers started their current three-game road trip with a 151-127 rout of the Pacers on Monday.

James Harden continued his resurgence with a 35-point performance, his highest of the season, going an absurd 8-of-11 from beyond the arc.  Harden, a career 36.4% three-point shooter, is now hitting at a 44.6% clip from beyond the arc.

Kawhi Leonard also continued to build steam after a sluggish start to the year. The two-time NBA Finals MVP dropped 28 in the win, the sixth-straight game he’s reached 27 or more.

Paul George is listed as questionable tonight due to an undisclosed illness. If PG13 is unable to go, it will be a massive loss for the Clippers. George is averaging 22.9 points per game along with 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists.  He’s played in 25 of 26 games for the team this year, though the only one he didn’t suit up for was a 121-113 home win over the Warriors last Thursday.

Clippers vs Mavericks Player Props

Doncic, the NBA’s second-leading scorer at 32.9 PPG, has an eye-popping over/under of 36.5 points on Wednesday along with 10.5 assists and 9.5 rebounds.

Clippers vs Mavericks Prediction

If Kawhi keeps playing at the level he’s shown the past two weeks and Harden’s three-point shooting stays hot, the Clippers have the look of a true championship contender. Their current win streak hasn’t just been a straight-up success, the Clippers have also covered the spread in six of seven, winning by an average of 14.6 points per game.

While the bulk of LA’s current win streak has come at home (six of eight games), the team has also won five of its past six road games, and I have no pause betting into this streak at a -130 price.

LAC vs DAL pick: Clippers moneyline (-130)

Sascha Paruk’s 2023-24 NBA betting record:

• 9-5-2 ATS (+3.03 units)
• 6-5 ML (+1.62 units)
• 4-10 player props (-6.4 units)

All wagers one unit unless expressly stated otherwise.