Game 22: LA Clippers at Dallas Mavericks
Sunday, December 2 at 4:00 PM
Last season: Clippers won series 2-1
This game will be a must-watch. After DeAndre Jordan left the Clippers and signed with the Mavericks on a 1-year deal in free agency this past summer, the storyline is hot. After almost signing with Dallas a few years back, DeAndre decided to finally join the Mavericks. He was absolutely professional about leaving the Clippers as well. The Clippers also recently acquired Johnathan Motley (F) from Dallas and signed him to a two-way deal.
It will also be interesting to see how the young guards from each team fair against one another. While it is unclear whether or not Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Jerome Robinson will start for the Clippers, Luka Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr. will certainly start for Dallas. Hopefully we will get to see SGA and DSJ have ample time to play against each other.
Despite being slept on, the Clippers and Mavericks have the potential to contend for a playoff spot. Expect this game to be highly entertaining and to come down to the wire. This will be the first of two games against the Mavericks in the month of December, with the other taking place in Los Angeles.
Don’t be surprised if the Clippers save their energy for the more challenging opponent in the Pelicans, who they play the next night. The Clippers could also go all-out and pick up the easier win that they are more likely to get against the Mavericks.
Prediction: I will be at this game and predict the Clippers will put in the extra effort to overcome Dallas’ home court advantage and come away with the win. They won’t drop the ball in Dallas like they did last season.