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Game 6 – Los Angeles Clippers (-2.5) at Dallas Mavericks
Total: 216.5
GAME 5: MAVERICKS 105, CLIPPERS 100
Series: Mavs lead series 3-2
Is it impossible to win in the friendly confines of your own home in this series? The road team is 5-0 in this series, and the LA Clippers are now one loss away from a first-round elimination. The Dallas Mavericks put the pressure on the Clippers, something they didn’t handle well a year ago when Denver did the same thing in Games 6 and 7. The Mavs have to win just one game, but they have played some of their worst basketball in their two home games. They need to channel that Staples Center energy they have because that’s when they’ve played defense and come through in the clutch. Luka Doncic was, once again, way too good for his opponents. It took 37 shots to get 42 points, but he dropped 42 to go with 14 assists. He accounted for 75 of the 105 points between his scoring and passing. The Clippers couldn’t survive Paul George’s foul trouble, and the minutes Rajon Rondo and Ivica Zubac gave them off the bench were disastrous (minus-19 each). Rondo tried to use some playmaking to make up for it, but the Clippers just dug too deep of a hole in the third quarter. Kawhi Leonard wasn’t good enough in this game, and it really just felt like Luka and Tim Hardaway Jr. against the Clippers. And now the Mavs are one win away from revenge from last season. At this rate, they’ll just have to wait until they’re on the road in Game 7 to get it done.
• Cato: Luka Doncic has been out of this world, but he needs help
• Murray: Second-half mistakes put Clippers in hole
NBA Playoffs
Where East NBA playoff field stands: Odds, rankings, what to like and what to worry about
Where West NBA playoff field stands: Odds, rankings, what to like and what to worry about
NBA predictions unplugged: Anonymous scout, coach and exec pick 2021’s first-round winners
John Hollinger picks: Early exit for LeBron and Lakers, Blazers over Nuggets and more
Scores & schedule | NBA podcasts | Complete NBA coverage
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images; The Athletic may receive an affiliate commission if you open an account with BetMGM through links contained in the above article.)
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