The Mavericks are coming into this game with a 50-32 record this season and they have been playing very well in their recent games. They lost their last 2 straight games as they were resting players in those games, having already clinched a playoff spot by then, but prior to those losses they were one of the hotter teams in the league as they had won 5 straight as well as 12 of their last 13 matches to ensure they lock up this 5th seed. They have actually won 2 of their last 3 as well as 7 of their last 9 games on the road and they were great on the road all season at 25-16 as well. They are going up against a Clippers team that is 51-31 this season and they have not been playing well in their recent games as they were also resting players having already clinched their spot. They have lost their last 3 straight games, but now they are also going to be without Kawhi Leonard in this game and that is a huge blow for them. Leonard has been a big part of the Clippers success this season as they have been a much better team with him in the lineup and even in all the games they beat the Mavericks in this season, Kawhi was playing in those games. This is going to be a very different team without him as the Clippers already dropped out of the race for the number 1 seed in the West in those final weeks without him, and the Mavericks have been resting players for this series so they are going to be healthy and ready to go in this game 1 to take a series lead. The Mavericks will cover the spread in this game.