Cooper Albers takes you through his preview, prediction and pick for Saturday’s NBA matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers.

Saturday night’s NBA slate concludes in the City of Stars, as the Los Angeles Clippers host the Dallas Mavericks at the Intuit Dome.

Both stumbling squads enter on the second leg of a back-to-back and are eager to snap three-game skids. The Mavericks (5–15, 14th Western Conference) last fell to the Lakers on the other side of town, while the Clippers (5–14, 12th West) lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in their return to LA after a lengthy road trip.

The teams first met earlier this month in Dallas, where the Clippers edged a narrow 133–127 victory in double overtime. 

Here’s a look at Saturday night’s Injury Report:

Dallas Mavericks

Out: Anthony Davis (Calf), Dante Exum (Knee), Daniel Gafford (Ankle), Dereck Lively II (Foot), Kyrie Irving (Knee)

Los Angeles Clippers

Out: Bradley Beal (Hip), Bogdan Bogdanovic (Hip), Derrick Jones Jr. (Knee), Jordan Miller (Hamstring)

Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET. Los Angeles enters as an 8.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Dallas is listed as a +280 underdog. The game’s total is set at 223.5 points. 

Mavericks vs. Clippers Preview

Dallas Mavericks Preview

Anthony Davis made his long-awaited return to Los Angeles last night against the Lakers, but will be sidelined for Saturday’s matchup as he works his way back from a calf strain. Without AD, the Mavericks revert back to what they’ve been for much of the season: brutally disappointing.

Dallas owns the worst offense in the league. The Mavs rank second-to-last in scoring on woeful inefficiency, while surrendering the fourth-most turnovers per game. Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington have done their parts, both averaging over 15 points per game, but it’s just not enough to keep up with the top teams in the league.

Fortunately, things are much better on the defensive end, where Dallas boasts the NBA’s sixth-best defense. The Mavericks rank second in blocks — despite their top bigs being sidelined  — and hold opponents to the ninth-lowest field-goal percentage and fifth-lowest three-point efficiency. The Mavs have turned defensive stops into opportunities on the other end with solid fastbreak offense, though they’ve struggled to limit second chances and secure the paint. 

Los Angeles Clippers Preview

One Los Angeles squad is having a resurgent season — the other one is the Clippers. They rank in the bottom third of the league in offensive (20th), defensive (28th), and net rating (24th). 

LA has mustered the NBA’s fifth-fewest points per game on brutally average shooting splits — less than ideal for a squad led by a pair of perennial All-Stars. James Harden leads the way with 27.6 points and 8.6 assists a night, while Kawhi Leonard has averaged just under 25 since returning from injury, but the rest of the squad has lagged steadily behind. It hasn’t helped that they also rank 22nd in turnovers, with the dynamic duo liable for an average of six per contest.

To put it bluntly, the Clippers are really bad at defense. They don’t generate many turnovers, nor do they rebound or do much to hamper opposing shooters. The Clippers’ defensive woes are particularly evident around the perimeter, where opponents are shooting over 39% from three-point range against them — the second-highest mark in the sport. They afford too many second-chance opportunities and get crushed in transition, though they have locked down the paint.

Mavericks vs. Clippers Pick, Best Bet

This matchup features one solid defense, a dreadful one, and two execrable offenses. The Mavs might not have the Clippers’ level of star power, but their defensive strength should keep them competitive — and LA’s nonexistent defense could give Dallas opportunities to pull ahead.

Count on the Mavericks to cover the 8.5-point spread on Saturday night.

Best Bet: Dallas Mavericks +8.5 Points (-110)