NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley thinks the Mavericks are dead in the water against the Clippers, predicting an LA rout to finish the series.
The Clippers looked in trouble when the Mavericks took a 2-0 series lead to open the NBA playoffs in Los Angeles.
Now it’s the Mavericks who look vulnerable with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George picking up the pace in Dallas.
Where will the series go from here? Charles Barkley thinks he knows.
“The Mavs are not going to win another game,” Barkley said during halftime of Game 4, per Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News. “They’re going to lose four straight.”
In one sense, that’s a yikes moment for Mavericks fans. Dallas trailed 61-45 when Barkley made that comment. LA’s defense swarmed while the Mavericks’ offense sputtered.
Luka Doncic playing through an injury and the Clippers’ stars came alive doesn’t bode well at all for the underdogs going forward.
Is this the end for the Mavericks? Does Los Angeles have too much momentum in their favor?
Fans think Charles Barkley jinxed the Clippers against the Mavericks
Actually, a lot of people on Twitter wonder if Barkley saved Dallas by making that prediction. He has a habit of jinxing things.
Charles Barkley just said the Mavs won't win another game so get ready for the comeback. pic.twitter.com/uFGRfMxzW1
— Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) May 31, 2021
If Charles Barkley said we losing 4 straight, I have hope..
— Luke C-Walker (@SuaveBry) May 31, 2021
Charles Barkley said the Clippers are gonna win 4 straight games....I’d be sweating if I was a Clippers fan.
— Ant (@InsaneKaine) May 31, 2021
Make no mistake, Clippers fans are sweating. The series has a long way to go.
Fu*k, Chuck just blew the clippers chances of a comeback. Man said Mavericks won’t win another game, and we know when Charles Barkley makes a Playoff prediction the opposite tends to happen. Rip Clippers #NbaonTNT #Nba #NBAPlayoffs
— Wolas47⚡️ (@telecterz) May 31, 2021
I wish Charles Barkley would say nothing bout the clippers cause he always jinx us🤦🏽♂️
— yvngtre1k (@trevonek32) May 31, 2021
The only people worrying harder over the Clippers-Mavs series are Lakers fans, apparently. It was a rough day for them after watching their team lose to the Suns. The worst-case scenario flashed before their eyes.
https://twitter.com/D_Ran44/status/1399197712487170052?s=20
Boyyyy we was just counting da clippers out and saying da lakers had it in da bag lmaoooo I’m sick
— Papa Stones (@iamstones_) May 31, 2021
https://twitter.com/brakzton/status/1399203080239861761?s=20
Whatever jinxing Barkley might have done, it didn’t take effect in the second half of Game 4. The Mavericks were down by 22 by the end of the third quarter.
The bad news for the Clippers and good news for Dallas is that Staples Center hasn’t held much of an advantage for either home team. The Lakers went 1-1 while the Clippers went 0-2.
The Mavericks will have to win there again in Game 5 to prove Barkley wrong.