The tiebreaker between the Mavs and the Clippers explained: Who has the advantage?

The Dallas Mavericks have been on an incredible run lately, winning 15 of their last 17 games and solidifying their place as the No. 5 seed in the upcoming playoffs. This means they will likely face off against the Los Angeles Clippers, the No. 4 seed, in the first round. Although the Clippers have been a formidable opponent for the Mavs in the past, the Dallas team is playing some of their best basketball right now. They have been imposing on defense, holding opponents to an average of 104.6 points per game over the last 16 games, which is the best in the league.

Before the Mavs’ recent game against the Charlotte Hornets, Hornets forward Grant Williams voiced his belief that his former team could be a championship contender. The Mavs proved him right, winning the game 130-104 in a dominant performance. However, as Williams noted, success in the playoffs largely depends on the matchup, and the Mavs will need to stay sharp if they hope to advance.

While the prospect of facing Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers in the playoffs may be daunting, there is some hope that Leonard may be hampered by recent knee inflammation. He has missed the past four games due to the issue, and his status for the playoffs remains uncertain. Furthermore, the Clippers have not yet faced the current version of the Mavs that have been dominant on both ends of the court.

If the Mavs manage to defeat the Clippers, it will be interesting to see who they face in the next round. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets are tied for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, with Minnesota currently holding the tiebreaker. If the Mavs advance, they will play either the No. 1 or No. 8 seed in the second round. This could set up an exciting matchup with the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets, both currently in contention for the No. 8 spot.