The Western Conference playoff series between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks has certainly been fun to watch. Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers will try to even up the series against Luka Doncic and the Mavericks in Game 4 on Sunday night.
Leonard enters the game averaging 34.3 points per game this series, which includes a 41-point performance in the Clippers’ Game 2 loss.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is averaging 38.0 points per game in the series, including a 44-point performance in the Maverick’s Game 3 loss.
So which All-Star will score more points on Sunday night?
WynnBET has their projected point totals set for the game, and you may be surprised to find out that Leonard has the higher projected total at 31.5 with the over (-116) favored to the under (-104). Doncic has his point total set at one point lower than Leonard's, with the over 30.5 (-112) slightly favored to the under at -108 odds.
Despite Doncic averaging almost four more points per game in the series and the fact that Game 4 will be played in Dallas, Vegas projects Kawhi to be the higher scorer in tonight’s pivotal matchup.
The Clippers currently sport the fifth best scoring defense in the NBA, keeping teams to only 108.2 points per game, but they can’t seem to stop Doncic, who has torched them all season. In the six games he played against them this season, including the three regular season matchups, Doncic is averaging 34.16 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 10.0 assists per game.
Luka Dončić has gotten better in every game of the series thus far:
— playoffs isaac (@isaacappelt) May 29, 2021
Game 1: 31 pts, 10 rebs, 11 asts on 46% shooting & 45% from 3
Game 2: 39 pts, 7 rebs, 7 asts on 55% shooting & 38% from 3
Game 3: 44 pts, 9 rebs, 9 asts on 54% shooting & 54% from 3
What will he do in Game 4? pic.twitter.com/hPrksBkCG2
This might all be for nothing as it was announced on Saturday that Doncic is listed as questionable for Game 4 with a cervical strain.
Luka Doncic (cervical strain) is questionable for Game 4 against the Clippers pic.twitter.com/41w4K1DFcM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 29, 2021
While indications now are that he will play, you have to wonder if the nagging injury will have any effect on his playing time or production.
Dallas star Luka Doncic is expected to play vs. Clippers in Game 4 despite his neck strain, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 30, 2021
Despite the injury, Doncic has dominated the Clippers too much this season to not place a bet on him going over his set point total of 30.5.