NBA Spreads: Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Dallas Mavericks are set to host the surging Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 8:30 ET at American Airlines Center, and will be the first meeting between these two teams this season.
The Clippers come in off a 113-109 win at home over the Golden State Warriors. It was the Clippers seventh win in their last nine games. Both losses however came on the road, where the Clippers are just 3-13 this season.
The Mavericks are hoping that a 87-86 win over the New Jersey Nets will not only get this team headed in the right direction, but will get Dirk Nowitzki going, as he hit the game-winning shot, despite a miserable night from the field.
Taking a look at the NBA spreads for tonight’s game, oddsmakers have the Mavericks favored by 5.5-points over the Clippers with the total set at 195.5.
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The Clippers could be in a bit of trouble tonight if Eric Gordon is unable to go. Gordon is dealing with a bruised lower back, and is listed as doubtful against the Mavericks. Gordon is averaging 26.8 points and 4.6 assists in his last five games, and would be a big loss if he can’t go. Randy Foye would likely start in place of Gordon.
If Gordon is unable to go, that means the Clippers are going to need a big night out of Blake Griffin and Baron Davis. Griffin had 30 points, 18 rebounds, and eight assists in the win over Golden State. Davis had just seven points on 3-10 shooting, but it was the first time he failed to score at least 14 in the month of January.
The Mavericks are hoping that they can bring the same energy against the Clippers as they did the Los Angeles Lakers in their last home game. Dallas beat the Lakers 109-100 thanks to 55% shooting.
The big key for the Mavericks is getting Nowitzki back in shape and in the form he was before he hurt his knee. Nowitzki doesn’t appear to have his legs under him just quite yet, and his shot is proving it. Nowitzki went just 7-24 from the field for 23 points against the Nets, and its just a matter of time before he gets things going.
Tyson Chandler had a big night offensively with 19 points to go along with eight rebounds, and Jason Terry came off the bench to score 11 points. Dallas needs to be more consistent, as they aren’t going to win a lot of games with Jason Kidd scoring just five points and Shawn Marion only getting six points.
The Mavericks just recently added Peja Stojakovic off waivers, but he is unlikely to play tonight against the Clippers.
With Gordon more than likely out for this game, I think you have to jump all over the Mavericks at -5.5. As good as Griffin has been, the combination of him and Gordon is why this team is starting to win games, and I don’t think the Clippers have much of a chance without him in the lineup.
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