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There’s only one first-round series remaining in the NBA playoffs, and the pre-series favorite is looking to stave off elimination on the road and force a Game 7.
After the road team emerged victorious in the first five games, the Mavericks have the chance to close out the Clippers in Dallas at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on ESPN. In Game 5 at Staples Center on Wednesday night, Luka Doncic scored 42 of the Mavericks’ 105 points and also dished out 14 assists in the team’s winning effort.
Yet, the Clippers have closed as the favorite in every game this series, and it looks like that will also be the case in Game 6. Los Angeles opened as a 2-point road favorite, and were subsequently bet up to -2.5. Then a Nevada bettor put $110,000 on Clippers -2.5 (-110) for a total potential payout of $210,000 and the line got bumped to -3.
Now, though, the Clippers (-150 on the moneyline) are back down to -2.5 against the Mavericks (+130 ML), with the total sitting at 216.5.
“This is going to be a big bet game,” said Nick Bogdanovich, Director of Trading for William Hill US. “There are all sorts of variables going on here. Luka’s one of the biggest stars in the NBA now, Clippers are a very polarizing team, it’s an elimination game and it’s the only game in town tonight. It’s been a great matchup and a competitive series, you’re going to get a ton of business anyway. But it’s the only game on a Friday night, so it’s going to be bet unmercifully.”
While the Clippers hold a slight edge with 51% of the total number of tickets among all spread bets against the Mavericks, they have a much bigger advantage in total dollars wagered at 86%. Where William Hill bettors are divided is on the moneyline, where the Mavericks have seized 59% of the total number of tickets and the Clippers have snagged 55% of the total dollars wagered.
For the total, the over has reeled in 79% of the total number of tickets and 87% of the total dollars wagered. Additionally, two of the most popular player prop bets in this showdown by total dollars wagered are Doncic over on total made 3-point field goals (3.5, over +115/under -145) and Kristaps Porzingis not recording a double-double (YES +375/NO -500).
Elsewhere around the league, the second round of the NBA playoffs starts tomorrow with Bucks vs. Nets at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT on TNT. William Hill has series odds up for the three matchups that have been finalized: Nets (-190) vs. Bucks (+170), 76ers (-175) vs. Hawks (+155) and Suns (-210) vs. Nuggets (+180).
“We opened Nets -180 then up to -210 and now back down to -190,” Bogdanovich said. “We’re dead even to the series, it’s been great two-way action. I think the three series that are up are all intriguing, but I’d say this one will be the most bet [in terms of series futures]. Obviously the Nets are the team with the major market, a Big 3 and a ton of future money on them, so anything Brooklyn is involved in will be bet big.”
Check out William Hill’s latest odds and trends for tonight’s Clippers vs. Mavericks Game 6 below.
