NBA playoffs: Mavericks vs. Clippers Game 5 prediction, odds, pick for 5/1

Mavericks vs. Clippers Odds

Wednesday, May 1, 10 p.m., TNT

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

Dallas Mavericks

During the season, the Mavs were elite against the spread, but they're 2-2 in this series.

For whatever reason, Luka Doncic averages over two more points in away playoff games (33.4 points) than he does at home (31 points).

Now, that does include the bubble and it's a very small sample, with three going each way.

And in terms of the total, we've had one over in this series (Game 4).

Another player to watch is PJ Washington, who's propped at 10.5 points. He's posted 11, 18, 10 and 10 points in the four games in this series and has often been a distant No. 3 option behind Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

He's posted exactly 10 field goal attempts in all but one game — Game 4 when he simply had nine.

Los Angeles Clippers

Including the playoffs, the Clippers are 2-4 as a home underdog this season, so this isn't a familiar spot. However, they did take Game 1 as a slight dog despite not having Kawhi Leonard.

The Clippers are 2-0 without Leonard in this series and 0-2 with him — he's been that injured. Still, the books think that the Mavericks are the better team, even on the road while coming off the heels of the Clippers taking back home court.

James Harden has had a legitimately good playoff series and is someone to watch on the prop market. He's gone over on points in all four contests but under on assists, playing more of a scoring role without Leonard and a struggling Russell Westbrook.

Even so, because he's 2-2 over/under on boards, he's hit his PRA in all games but Game 3.

Mavericks vs. Clippers

Betting Pick & Prediction

More than anything else, I like the Mavericks to take another road game here.

It's hard to believe that the Clippers will go 3-0 without Leonard, and the Mavericks did have multiple comebacks in what nearly became a damning loss for the Clips last time out.

I'll take the Mavericks -2.5. And as a prop, I'll take PJ Washington over 10.5 points.

Pick: Mavericks -2.5 | PJ Washington Over 10.5 Points