Doncic triple-double pushes Mavs to Game 1 road win
The Dallas Mavericks take home court advantage away from the Los Angeles Clippers after a 111-103 game one win at the Staples Center. Luka Doncic carried the Mavs to victory, while the defense locked down in the final quarter.
Stars came out to play early
Dallas jumped out to a 12 point lead early in the first quarter thanks to a hot start from the field. It was clear from the start the stars were going to be on display in the game one. Doncic and Leonard both had double digits in the opening 12 minutes.
Clips come up empty in last five minutes
The Clippers came back in the second quarter, and managed to keep even with the Mavs for the majority of the second half. There were 7 lead changes in two minute span during the the middle of the fourth. With six minutes left, the Mavs took control
Luka Doncic was forced into more of a passive role in the fourth as he was double teamed almost every time he crossed half court. The supporting cast took the wheel, as Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis were finding open buckets after the double teams.
Another playoff triple double for Luka
Doncic registered his third triple double in just seven career playoff games. The Slovenian ended the night with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, while Tim Hardaway had 21, going 5-9 from downtown.
Kawhi Leonard had a great first half, but Paul George struggled from the field in the opening 24 minutes. In the second half George took over, but Leonard struggled to make a big impact.
The Mavs will return to the Staples Center with one 1-0 advantage and a chance to go back to Dallas with a surprising 2-0 lead. If today was a preview of what is to come, we are in for another thrilling series between the Mavs and the Clippers.
The Dallas Mavericks take home court advantage away from the Los Angeles Clippers after a 111-103 game one win at the Staples Center. Luka Doncic carried the Mavs to victory, while the defense locked down in the final quarter.
Stars came out to play early
Dallas jumped out to a 12 point lead early in the first quarter thanks to a hot start from the field. It was clear from the start the stars were going to be on display in the game one. Doncic and Leonard both had double digits in the opening 12 minutes.
Clips come up empty in last five minutes
The Clippers came back in the second quarter, and managed to keep even with the Mavs for the majority of the second half. There were 7 lead changes in two minute span during the the middle of the fourth. With six minutes left, the Mavs took control
Luka Doncic was forced into more of a passive role in the fourth as he was double teamed almost every time he crossed half court. The supporting cast took the wheel, as Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis were finding open buckets after the double teams.
Another playoff triple double for Luka
Doncic registered his third triple double in just seven career playoff games. The Slovenian ended the night with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, while Tim Hardaway had 21, going 5-9 from downtown.
Kawhi Leonard had a great first half, but Paul George struggled from the field in the opening 24 minutes. In the second half George took over, but Leonard struggled to make a big impact.
The Mavs will return to the Staples Center with one 1-0 advantage and a chance to go back to Dallas with a surprising 2-0 lead. If today was a preview of what is to come, we are in for another thrilling series between the Mavs and the Clippers.
Bronson hits two more free throws. And it's all over from the Staples Center!!! The Mavs sneak out of game 1 with an away win.
Bronson connects on both free throws.
Under 50 seconds to go in LA.
Leonard fouled, and splits the FTs.
Porzingis on the strong drive and finishes with the dunk or George.
George on the dunk down the lane.
Hardaway slashes to the rack, finishes on the finger roll.
Porzingis fouled on the shot, hits both from the line. 1:40 to go in the fourth.
2:30 to go in the fourth, Morris to the line, misses both.
Finney-Smith with a corner three off the feed from Doncic.
George off the long pull up for two.
Under 4 to go in LA.
Hardaway for three, puts the Mavs up by 2 out of the timeout
A charge was called on PG on the fast break, but the Clippers are going to challenge the call.
Doncic finds Porzingis for the dunk off the pick and roll.
Rondo hits one of two from the line
Rondo from downtown! Under 6:30 in the fourth
Finney-Smith drains a long ball. Mavs are back up by one. Timeout from LA.
George drops a three from the near side.
Brunson with another and 1! Thats two staight, but he misses the FT
Leonard on the step back. HE's got 25
Bronson high off the glass, gets the bucket and the foul. FT is good
George pulls up from the top of the key
Batum threads a three ball.
Doncic fouled by Ibaka on the drive, Luka hits one of two.
The call has been overturned. Luka back to 3 fouls
Doncic with the charge, he's got four fouls. Carlisile to challenge.
We are in the fourth quarter from LA.
Richardson beats the buzzer slicing down the lane and finishing with the finger roll
Ibaka at the line, drops one of two.
Brunson get the roll of the mid range jumper.
Leonard off the fastbreak gets the bucket and the foul.
Doncic on the pull up three. He's got 30 points
A little over two minutes to go in the third quarter.
Batum with a triple try from the corner.
Finney-Smith hanging in the air and finishing close to the iron.
Brunson on the finger roll from the right hand side.
Leonard with a posterizing dunk. The Staples Center is lit after that highlight slam!
Morris mid range jumper from the right side.
George going back to the rack. Much better second half for PG
Finney-Smith spots up from three point land
Leonard strolls to the basket for an easy dunk
Hardaway Jr. with a three ball
George on the midrange fade away
Beverly on the three ball from the far side
Doncic quick trigger, from the corner and the Clippers need a timeout.
Doncic off balance in the paint, fading away.
Doncic to the line, knocks down one of two
Beverly from downtown. We are all square in LA
Back in play, and George gets going out of the gate. He was 1-7 from the field in the first half.
The Mavs are 10/21 from behind the arc tonight. Can they keep the hot shooting going in the second half?
Doncic leads all scorers with 21 points. He's also dished 6 assists and pulled down four rebounds
Leonard is leading the Clippers with 17 points through the first two quarter.
The first half comes to a close, with the Mavs leading 60-55 on the road.
Leonard fouled, goes to the line and hits both.
Doncic from four feet behind the three point line
Hardaway in the corner off the Luka feed
Doncic with another triple
Under two minutes to go in the first half
Finney-Smith with an 18 footer.
Beverly gets the roll on the floater. Timeout Dallas
Beverley with an up and under from the paint.
George to the line, he hasn't had a good day from the field, but he continures to knock down FTs.
Richardson to the iron, he's got six points from the bench.
Zubac down the lane, easy slam
Doncic on the step back three
Defensive three seconds on the Clippers, Tech knocked down by Doncic.
Leonard with a midrange J from the far side.
Kleber on a three ball from the far side.
Rondo with back to back threes out of the timeout
Rondo drops a three in transition, got space with a ball fake. Tie game in LA, timeout on the floor.
Hardaway following up his own shot
Morris across the lane, drops his first bucket
Porzingis to the line, hits two
Defensive three second call, Technical. George hits the FT
George slashing through the lane, he's got his first points of the night
Richardson from outside the arc
Batum, tought shot on the quick release reverse.
Leonard hits two free throws to end the first quarter. Tight game here from LA. Doncic and Leonard going toe to toe in the first quarter.
Mavs were 27-0 in the regular season when leading after the first quarter
Brunson fouled as the shot clock buzzer sounds, goes to the line and hits two of two
Jackson driving on the right side, finishes off the glass.
Ibaka with a short range J
Luka on the O rebound, and the put back
Leonard from the FT line, drops the jumper. He's got 11
Doncic into the lane, hits a runner.
Leonards rattles home a three from the far corner
Ibaka knocks down a couple free throws
Smith on the near side for , Mavs with 3 threes to start the first quarter.
Timeout Mavs, Coach Carlisle is not happy with what he's seen on the rebound end to start the game.
Zubac hitting the boards, and gets the put back. He's got 6 points
Batum from the near corner
Luka on the fall away long jumper
Leonard at the line, and he has the last 6 points for the Clips
Hardaway in the corner for three
Leonard on back to back buckets.
Doncic drops two FTs
Leonard getting into the paint, drops the leaner in the lane
The Heat and the Bucs are in OT, and nothing is between them with just a couple minutes to go.
Hardaway on the far side connects from downtown
Smith with a wide open lane to the rack, on a vicious slam
George to the line knocks down two FTs.
Zubac with a second straight bucket, he's got 4 to start
Doncic hits the midrange jumper off the dribble.
Porzingis with a long ball
Zubac put the Clippers on the board for the first time tongiht.
Doncic fouled going to the rim, he makes one of two
We are underway from the Staples Center! Max Kleber starts us off with a bucket and 1, converting on the FT
We are just about to start the action here from the Staples Center
The Bucs and the Heat are locked in an intense battle coming down to the wire. Milwaukee is up 94-93 win three minutes to go in the fourth.
What would pregame coverage be without checking on some of the pregame drip of the players enterning the Staples Center tonight.
Clippers coach Lue responded to speculation that the Clippers were trying to avoid the Lakers in the first round, "We finally got our team healthy, and that's what we focused on. Whatever people say on the outside, I don't care. I'm my own man, and I do what I want to do."
Paul George and Kawahi Leonard are one of the top duos in the league. Their numbers were almost identical at the end of the season, and Los Angeles will need them to be monumental in this series
Doncic was left out of the NBA MVP nominees, but his numbers speak for themself. If Dallas can put a team around Luka in the next few years don't be suprised if the Slovenian is hoisting the trophy soon rather than later.
The Mavs lead the season series over the Clippers 2-1. Dallas won the opening matchup 124-73, and then split a back to back series in Dallas. The last of which Doncic had 42 points six rebounds and nine assists in a 105-89 win in mid March.
Hello everyone and welcome to Los Angeles, where the Clippers will take of the Dallas Mavericks in round one of the Western Conference playoffs. AS English will be with you throughout the entire game keeping you up to date all the action bringing you live coverage, scores and stats from the Staples Center.
Rematch of last years thrilling series
It’s a rematch of last years first round matchup that saw the Clippers advance to the second round after winning a tight series 4-2.
There was chatter towards the end of the season that perhaps the Clips had one eye on the standings in the West, and were intentionally trying to avoid a matchup with their intercity rival, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Clips with homecourt, with Leonard and George healthy
The Clippers finished the season in the fourth spot in the Western Conference, earning home court in the first round. Both Paul George and Kawahi Leonard sat the last two games of the regular season, but are back in full force tonight for Tyrone Lue’s squad.
Leonard is averaging 25 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5 assist this season, while George is at 23, 6 and 5, a night.
Luka running the show for the Mavs
The Mavericks narrowly escaped the Play-In Tournament by winning three of their last five games, and set up a potential revenge match up after last years loss to the Clips.
Luka Doncic is the undisputed star of the show for the Mavs. He will have to be at his best to top the two headed monster that is the Los Angeles Clippers. Luka is averaging 27.7 a night to go along with his 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Kristaps Porzinigis has been battling injury but looks to be at full strength coming into the series. The Latvian is getting 20 points and 9 rebounds a game.