Clippers vs Mavericks Game 4 Odds, Lines and Spread
- The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks 130-122 on Friday to take a 2-1 series lead
- Mavs star Luka Doncic was forced to leave Game 3 early with a sprained ankle
- Read below for a preview and betting prediction for the game
The entire basketball world held its breathe Friday night when Luka Doncic fell awkwardly on his left ankle. The star guard hobbled off the floor with what was later diagnosed as a sprained left ankle, leaving everyone wondering if he’ll suit for Game 4 on Sunday (Aug. 23, 3:30 pm EST) against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Prayers up for Luka 🙏 @luka7doncic pic.twitter.com/DnldENXAad
— Overtime (@overtime) August 22, 2020
Right now, team officials are unsure of the severity of the injury, but the fact that he did return to the game briefly before exiting for good, is hopefully a positive sign.
Clippers vs Mavericks Game 4 Odds
| Team | Spread at FanDuel | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | -8 (-110) | -370 | OTB |
| Dallas Mavericks | +8 (-110) | +295 | OTB |
Odds taken Aug. 22nd
A first glance at the opening odds for Game 4 suggest Luka will be in the lineup, but most likely not at 100%. The Clippers are currently 8-point favorites over the Mavs, after closing as 4.5-point favorites in Game 3. If Doncic were out, you’d have to assume the line would be higher given how crucial he is to Dallas’ success.
Mavs Must Have Doncic to Compete
Luka downplayed the severity of the injury after the game, saying he was fortunate it was to his left ankle and not his right. He’ll have an MRI on Saturday which will likely to determine whether or not he’s a go for Game 4.
Luka Doncic: “It’s not that bad. Honestly, I had luck that it was my left ankle. It’s not my right” that he sprained twice earlier this season.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) August 22, 2020
He carried the team on his back in the opening two games of the series, averaging 35 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8 assists, and posted 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Game 3 before leaving. He became the third youngest player in NBA history to record a playoff triple-double on Friday, and he did so in just 29 minutes.
Luka Dončić has become the first player in Mavericks franchise history to record a triple-double in the playoffs following that rebound.
Dončić (21 years, 175 days) becomes the third-youngest player ever to record a triple-double in the playoffs (Magic Johnson, LeBron James). pic.twitter.com/9RhQhfW0UH
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) August 22, 2020
If he’s unable to play on Sunday, Kristaps Porzingis will become the focal point of the Mavs offense. The smooth shooting 7-footer averaged 27.2 points and 11.8 rebounds in the 13 games Doncic missed in the regular season, leading Dallas to a 6-7 record.
Kawhi Can’t be Stopped
Even if Luka does play it may not matter. The Mavericks have no answer for Kawhi Leonard, as last year’s NBA Finals MVP torched them again in Game 3. Kawhi went for 36 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists on Friday, making up for another poor shooting performance from Paul George.
"Can you win this series the way PG is shooting?"
Kawhi's response: 💯 pic.twitter.com/i1SdNychUy
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) August 22, 2020
George finished just 3-for-16 from the field, but it didn’t even matter as Leonard buried 54.2% of his attempts. He’s averaging 33 points, 10 boards and 5 assists through three games, while also racking up six steals and a block.
https://twitter.com/LegionHoops/status/1297008183236374530
Over Leonard’s past four postseason runs, he’s shooting 50% from the field, 40% from three and 90% from the charity stripe, all while maintaining a usage rate above 30%. There is no player better on the planet than Playoff Kawhi.
LA is the Play
It never feels good to lay 8 points, but if you want to bet this game before any news on Luka comes out, betting Los Angeles is the only play. If Doncic is ruled out, -8 will actually feel like a value, but even if he does suit up you’ll still have outs.
Tonight, Kawhi Leonard became the 2nd player in @LAClippers history to score 35+ points in consecutive playoff games.
The Klaw reflects on the victory.#ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/boZmGZKYFr
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) August 22, 2020
Both of the Clippers wins this series were by 8 points and they were up by double-digits when Luka left the game in the 3rd quarter. Nobody is playing better basketball than Kawhi right now, and if PG-13 can start contributing at the rate LA expects, the Clippers could blow the Mavs out of the arena with or without Doncic.
Pick: Los Angeles Clippers -8 (-110)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
