NBA weekend betting preview: Another under for Clippers-Mavs
The Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks play a critical Game 6 on Friday, while the second round of the postseason begins Saturday.
Here are all the key betting angles for the next three days.
Clippers at Mavericks (+3, 216.5)
June 4, 9 p.m. ET
The Clippers are in danger of losing as -420 first-round favorites after falling as home chalk in Game 5. They're headed back to Dallas, where they're a red-hot 8-2 against the spread in the last 10. The road team has won all five games in this series, and the market expects a sixth with L.A. listed as a 3-point favorite.
One factor that sticks out ahead of Game 6 is the pace of play. Dallas finished the season No. 28 in the league in possessions per game (100.0) and the Clippers were dead last (99.4). During the last three contests, the two offenses have played at an even slower crawl of 93.2 possessions.
L.A. is riding a 15-5-1 run to the under, and two of the totals that went over during that stretch were throwaway games to close out the regular season.
In the last six unders between these two, the total has missed the mark by an average of 26.1 points per game.
Pick: Under 216.5
Bucks at Nets (-4, 239.5)
June 5, 7:30 p.m. ET
Overs could be the hot commodity in this heavyweight clash.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets combined to post 238.7 points per game during the regular season, tied for the most between two teams meeting in a playoff series in the last 50 years. The market anticipates more in Game 1, as the total opened at 241 and now sits at 239.5.
Another angle to consider is just how awful the Bucks have been in the underdog role. Milwaukee's on a woeful 0-8 run ATS when catching points.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, has gone over the total in four straight against teams with winning percentages of .600 or better. Add in Milwaukee's willingness to play at a faster tempo - the offense finished No. 5 in pace - and you have a recipe for huge numbers for the Nets.
The Nets needed to shake off some rust early in the first round against the Boston Celtics, but with a series under their belt and the Big Three gelling, expect fewer kinks.
Pick: Nets team total over 122.5 or better
Hawks at 76ers (-2.5, 220.5)
June 6, 1 p.m. ET
Trae Young was masterful in the opening-round win over the New York Knicks, but it's the defense that deserves credit.
A year after ranking last in points allowed and No. 26 in opponent shooting percentage, the Atlanta Hawks climbed to No. 12 in both. Atlanta held five of its last seven opponents to less than 100 points. All seven opponents over that span were held under their team total.
The Philadelphia 76ers, meanwhile, played four overs in five matchups against the Washington Wizards in the first round. However, the pace will drop off considerably: Washington's No. 1 in that department and Atlanta is No. 23.
Pick: Under 220.5
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.