LOS ANGELES, CA — The Dallas Mavericks (38-39) head to Inglewood to take on the Los Angeles Clippers (43-32) in a must-win game for both teams in the Western Conference playoff race. The Clippers, currently sitting in 7th, have been solid against Western opponents, holding a 23-23 record. They rely on an offense that averages 112.2 points per game, led by Ivica Zubac’s 16.5 points per game and James Harden’s 21.5 points over the last 10 games.
Dallas, in 9th place, has struggled against the West with a 23-25 mark. Despite that, the Mavericks excel when they limit turnovers, winning 15 of 12 games when they commit fewer turnovers than their opponents. They also average 12.7 made 3-pointers per game, just slightly ahead of the Clippers’ 12.4.
With Anthony Davis leading the Mavericks with 25 points and 11.6 rebounds, and Klay Thompson contributing from deep, Dallas will rely on their key players to step up. However, the team faces challenges with injuries, including the season-ending absences of Kyrie Irving and Dante Exum.
For the Clippers, Jordan Miller and Amir Coffey are day-to-day, adding a bit of uncertainty to their lineup.
With both teams battling for playoff positioning, Friday’s game will be crucial in shaping their postseason aspirations.
