Clippers vs. Mavericks Game 6 prediction, odds, expert pick for Friday 5/3

Clippers vs. Mavericks Odds

Friday, May 3, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NBA odds here.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are 2-3 in this series and against the spread — shocking.

The series has also seen two Unders and three Overs.

The Clippers are now 2-1 without Kawhi Leonard, who has already been ruled out for Game 6, but it didn't help at all in a home Game 6.

Additionally, James Harden — over in scoring for four straight — bombed in Game 5 for seven points on 2-of-12 shooting and four turnovers. Just keeping us honest and making sure we re-familiarize us with his playoff self.

The community — including a bunch of us at Action — were heavy on Norman Powell's over last game, and he accomplished that, going over 10.5 points with 14 in 24 minutes off the bench. They need more of that from him.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs have outscored the Clippers 218-170 over the last seven quarters of this series. And they tortured them in Game 5.

Kyrie Irving was as good as he could've been, considering his stat line appeared underwhelming, finishing with just 14 points and six assists in 34 minutes on 6-of-14 shooting, but this game shapes up as a possible bounce-back spot for him.

He had been averaging 28.8 points in this series prior to that, and even still, he's near 26.

Luka Dončić — who averages about 34 points in road playoff games and around 31 at home — erupted for 35-10-7 in Game 5.

Dončić is at 30-9-9 this series but is just at 42/26/83 shooting splits. Game 5 was his most efficient, shooting 54% from the field and he made all five free throw attempts, but was still just 2-of-8 from deep.

Clippers vs. Mavericks

Betting Pick & Prediction

I took the Mavericks in the series, I liked them in six, and I have no major reason to shy away. Yes, the Clippers can win because they have in Dallas already, but it's Mavericks or nothing for me in this game betting wise. While I don't think it's as much of a beatdown as Game 5, I like the Mavs to win. And while I think they may cover in the game, I like them to cover in the second half especially.

The Mavs have won three of the five second halves in this series. In Game 1, they outpaced them by 14 points, were just -1 and -2 in Game's 2 and 3, and handled them by 12 and 20 in the last two games. They've been second-half thumpers in this series, I think that continues en route to a win.

Pick: Mavericks 2H -3.5