Tonight is the third night of a back-to-back-to-back for the no-doubt weary Los Angeles Clippers and they figure to be very shorthanded again as the host the Dallas Mavericks in the marquee matchup of the night in the NBA. The Mavericks opened as 2.5-point favorites on Bovada’s NBA basketball odds.
 
Get all your NBA basketball odds at Bovada’s online sportsbook.
 
Dallas wouldn’t be favored if Clips point guard Chris Paul was expected to play, but he isn’t. Paul has missed the past two games because of a strained left hamstring. And backup Mo Williams hasn’t been available, either, because of a sore right foot – he has missed three games in a row. Fellow point guard Eric Bledsoe remains out for at least a few more weeks after knee surgery. So suddenly the Clips, who had more point guard depth than anyone, don’t really have a point guard.
 
And that showed on Tuesday night. L.A.’s three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end, as the Clippers (7-4) were blown out in Utah 108-79. Blake Griffin had just 10 points and the team was clearly out of rhythm. Since Paul's strained left hamstring the Clippers are 1-1, and have scored just 85 points per game in his absence. When healthy the Clippers are a different team, scoring nearly 100 points per game.
 
The Mavericks should be well rested as they stayed in Los Angeles after Monday’s ugly 73-70 loss at the Lakers. Guard Vince Carter missed a tying 3-point at the buzzer in that one and won’t play tonight as he tweaked his ankle upon the landing of that shot. The Mavs are just 2-4 away from home this season. The Clips are 6-1 at home. Dallas has won 10 straight over the Clippers since a 103-92 loss on Nov. 9, 2008, but obviously these Clippers are different.
 
It's a short season. Play Harder. Bet on the NBA at Bovada.

 

Social Bookmarking