NBA playoff best bets: Mavericks vs. Clippers Game 2 prediction, odds, pick for Tuesday 4/23

Mavericks vs. Clippers Odds

Tuesday, April 23, 10 p.m. ET, TNT

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

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks ended the season 24-9 and were 13-6 on the road. As a road favorite this season, they're 19-5, best in the NBA.

In Game 1, P.J. Washington was the only other Maverick to shoot more than five times besides Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, who generally held up their end from a production standpoint with 64 of the team's 97 points, adding 20 rebounds and 10 assists. Part of why Dallas has been so good is because the role players have been better, as has the defense, especially from Daniel Gafford.

Gafford was absolutely housed by Ivica Zubac last game. Zubac had 20 points and 15 rebounds and played big boy basketball, feasting on Dallas' interior, a weakness that had become a strength for the Mavs; but if it reverts this series, they're screwed.

But the Mavericks shot 39/30/76 splits to the Clippers 46/50/85, so some measure of balance could swing this in Dallas' favor.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers didn't have Kawhi Leonard, but it didn't matter because James Harden was his vintage self.

Playoff issues may rise again as they tend to for The Beard, but he was spectacular in Game 1, torching the Mavs for 28 points and eight assists while hitting six 3s. But no, I don't expect that routinely this series, even without Leonard.

Paul George has room for improvement, though he wasn't uncharacteristically bad — like say, Jalen Brunson has been in the Knicks-Sixers series — he was just meh. George had 22 points on 8-of-20 shooting, just 4-of-12 from deep. He hits one of those eight missed 3s and we say he had a good game, so no big deal.

The Clippers are 2-4 as a home underdog, and only four NBA teams are worse. I don't think they do it in back-to-back efforts, nor do I think they shoot 46/50/85 again, but if Zubac's production is sustainable against Gafford and Dereck Lively II, it might not matter.

Mavericks vs. Clippers

Betting Pick & Prediction

I'm taking Dallas, all that said.

I picked them to win the series, and I still think they do — but they need this game.

According to Basketball Reference, only 18 teams have come back from down 2-0 since 1984 in the 2-2-1-1-1 format era. In this era, in particular, it might not be as daunting for Dallas if it fell behind 2-0 given the talent distribution across the league; it's something we could actually see somewhat more often than previous iterations of the league.

But the Mavericks had zero urgency in Game 1, Irving aside, and I think their disposition changes. I also feel good backing them given their track record as a road favorite ATS, as outlined earlier.

I also think Irving can go over 34.5 points, rebounds and assists again. He had 31-7-4 in Game 1 vs. the Clippers, and he did go over in both instances he played them in November. So long as Leonard isn't out there to shore up the Clippers defense, I'll be looking at Irving to break free and hit some Overs.

Pick: Mavericks -2.5 | Kyrie Irving Over 34.5 PRA