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ESPN will host Friday’s NBA playoff matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks with tip off set for 9:30 p.m. ET. The game will take place at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, and will air on Bally Sports SoCal in the Clippers market and on Bally Sports SW-DAL in the Mavericks market.
If you aren’t around a TV to check out this first round NBA playoff matchup, you can stream the game via WatchESPN or the ESPN app. But keep in mind that you need a cable-login subscription. If you don’t have a cable login to access ESPN for a live stream, you can get a free trial from YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, or Sling TV to stream the game.
The Clippers find themselves in a rough spot after two games. The team in a 2-0 hole has only won 27 series out of 426 in playoff history, according to Land of Basketball. Luckily for LA, Kawhi Leonard was the most recent player to accomplish this feat when the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2018-19 Eastern conference finals. Leonard and Paul George have been solid, but the role players need to step up. The Clippers also need to improve defensively to avoid another embarrassing playoff exit.
The Mavericks entered the series as big underdogs and are now favored after two wins at -250, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Luka Doncic continues to impress, averaging 35.0 points, 9.0 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game in the first two contests. He’s elevating Dallas’ supporting cast as well, creating openings for shooters like Tim Hardaway Jr. The Mavericks are hitting threes at a ridiculous rate, but the Clippers also haven’t presented much resistance.