Mavericks 96 - 93 Clippers summary, stats, scores and highlights | NBA Playoff Game 2
The Clippers would take a momentary lead in the fourth quarter, but it was short lived. Luka made sure that the Mavs left LA with a win in their pocket while taking home court away from the Clippers. He ended the night with 32, 6 and 9 assists to draw the series level. Game 3 in Dallas is set for Friday night.
PJ Washington answered the call for the Mavs after their role players were called into question. He had 18 points and 6 rebounds after scoring 11 last game.
Kyrie took a little while to get going, but he ended the night with 23 points and 6 rebounds and disrupted former teammate James Harden's night. Harden and Paul George had great Game 1s but neither one seemed to find their rhythm with Kawhi Leonard making his come back from a knee injury.
The Mavs held the Clippers to just five field goals in the first half and took control of the lead for the rest of the way. While Dallas led most of the night, no team had a double digit lead as LA tried to keep pace with Luka, Kyrie and Dereck Lively. Lively had seven of the 13 bench points on Tuesday night.
Luka needed everyone else to chip in, but he knew he was going to be the one to carry his team in LA and that's what he did. The biggest difference between the Mavs' Game 1 and Game 2 was their defense. They came out and made life difficult for the Clippers on the offensive end.
The Dallas Mavericks pulled level with the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of what most people believe is the most evenly matched first round series of the playoffs. Luka Doncic led his team with 32 points, but it was the other guys that made the difference.
After Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored 64 of the Mavericks 97 points in Game 1, Dallas was desperate to see the role players get involved. Derick Jones Jr. made sure he made an impact right out of the gate after going scoreless in the opening matchup.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The Dallas Mavericks steal home court from LA and even up the series heading back to American Airlines Center.
George drills the three ball to beat the buzzer.
Kleber got the offensive rebound off the missed FT and Irving goes back to the line where he hits both FTs.
Irving to the line after a risky pass from Doncic out of the press. Irving hits one of two FTs with 12 on the clock.
DAL challenged the foul by Irving on Kawhi, and the call is reversed and Leonard will not shoot a FT.
Perfect play set up from LA to get Kawhi open for a lay up and he hits it with a foul! FT coming after a timeout from DAL.
Jones to the line after the the foul on Leonard and he hits one of two FTs.
Timeout LA with 21.2 to go.
George was fouled by Jones from behind the arc, but the refs call it on the floor. FTs are good and it's a four point game with 27.1 to go.
George sends Washinton to the line and he hits both FTs with 34.3 to go.
George driving down the lane and he dumps it off for Zubac for the slam! Under 50 seconds to go.
Harden with a quick trigger three out of the timeout!
Step back from Doncic with Harden draped all over him and he splashes it to put DAL up 9!
Timeout Clippers with 1:26 to go in the fourth.
Kick out from Doncic to Kleber who was wide open and he sticks it from the wing.
George had it down low and slipped it to Zubac for the slam down the lane.
George eurostepping down the lane and gets the reverse to go in traffic.
Leonard to the line after the foul on Jones and he hits one of two.
Timeout Dallas with under 4:00 to go.
Washington was left open in the corner and Doncic found him for the triple try!
Westbrook answers back with a three ball from the top of the key!
Irving with an impossible floater from outside the lane and the Mavs have tied their largest lead of the game.
Doncic felt the double and kicked it out to Irving who drills the three ball from the top of the key!
Doncic pulls up from the top of the key before the offense even got set, and he drills the trey!
Timeout Clippers with 7:01 to go.
Extra pass from Kleber to Washington in the corner and he strokes the corner three!
Doncic fouled by Harden and he hits one of two FTs.
Washington drives down the left side and hangs it high off the glass after the jump stop from outside the lane.
Westbrook slips it down to Zubac on the baseline and he hits the baby hook!
Timeout Dallas with 9:32 to go in the 4th quarter.
Powell had to pull the trigger with the shot clock winding down and he sinks it from the wing!
Lively to the line after the foul on Powell and he hits both FTs .
Zubac drives from the corner and lays it up and in out of the break.
Doncic got Td up after the bucket for screaming at the ref for a foul.
Harden drills the FT and that's how the third quarter comes to an end. LA take the lead heading into the final 12 minutes.
Doncic driving to the cup down the right side of the lane and he somehow gets it to go over Westrbook.
Harden to the line for three shots after the foul on Green and he hits all three FTs to give the Clips a two point lead.
Doncic slips it off to Washington who hits the floater int he paint.
Mavs timeout with 3:06 to go in the third quarter.
Jones sends George to the line where he hits both FTs and the Clippers have the lead!
Westbrook driving on the left side and takes Jones to the cup for the lay up off the glass.
Leonard into the paint and he gets the tough runner to fall over Washington. Zubac got fouled off the ball by Kleber and he hits the FT.
Irving knocks it down from the top of the key off the dribble and that's. quick 6-0 run from DAL.
Doncic had no where to go with it so he steps back and drills a three ball from the wing!
Zubac to the line after the foul on Gafford and he hits both FTs. We ar tied up here from LA!
Leonard soars in for the offensive rebound and put back off the miss from George.
George knocks it down from DT after Westbrook found him in the corner.
Irving stripped Harden from behind and takes it for the slam on the break!
Timeout LA with under 8:00 to go in the 4th quarter.
Irving behind the back to Washington in the corner and he drills the triple try!
Harden pulls the trigger and hits the three ball over Doncic!
Leonard driving into traffic, stops and hits the floater in the lane.
Doncic steps back from the FT line and hits the jumper over George.
Irving drills a step back three ball and he might just start to get going after a slow start to the game.
Leonard with the steal and the slam to get the third quarter underway. That's 6 for Kawhi.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FROM LA FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
The Clippers shot just 34.1% from the field in the first half, but only trail by 4 points. If they start scoring, they might run away with this game.
Kawhi is playing in his first game since March 31st, and he came out a little rusty. He found his shot in the second quarter and is heading into the third quarter with 4 points.
George had 10 in the first half most of those coming in the first quarter, but sat back and let Harden and Kawhi get into the game.
Kyrie had 31 last game, but had a slow start in the first half going to the break with 7 points.
Lively came off the bench and provided a spark for his team. The other guys needed to step up, and they are tonight.
The Clippers hit just five FGs in the first quarter, Paul George had two of those FGs in the opening minutes.
We talked about Luka and Kyrie needing some help tonight, but Luka is trying to carry this team all on his own. He's got 18, 4 and 4.
Derrick Jones Jr. was held scoreless in Game 1, but he made sure that wouldn't happen a second time in this series. He got off to a quick start scoring the first 5 Mavs points. He's got 9 at the break.
WE ARE HEADING TO HALFTIME AFTER A VERY DEFENSIVE FIRST HALF FROM LOS ANGELES.
Leonard spins into the lane and hits the runner in the paint.
Jones went to dunk on everyone in the lane, came up a little shy but did get it to bounce in off the front of the rim.
Doncic to the line after the foul on George and he hits both FTs.
Powell missed in from the baseline but Mann was there waiting to put back a nasty tip slam.
Harden all alone after an errant pass from Doncic and he slams it home, just barely.
Luka lays it off for Jones on the perimeter and he hits the floater off the dribble.
Irving into the lane and floats it up with his left hand on the flat footed shot attempt.
Harden with the step back from the elbow, he gets the bucket and the foul on Exum! FT is good.
George drills the mid range jumper from the FT line out of the timeout.
Timeout Mavs with 5:49 to in the first half.
Irving pulls up from the wing and sticks the three ball!
Harden takes it to the rack and Gafford blocked it but after it hit off the backboard.
Washington back to the line after the foul on George and he hits both FTs.
Washington fouled by Harden on the three ball and he hits just one of three FTs.
Harden to the lane and he hits the fade away out of the timeout.
Doncic inches his way into the paint from the left side and floats it up and in.
Timeout Clippers with under 8:00 to go in the first half.
Washington comes up with the loose ball and looks ahead to Doncic who finishes in transition.
Irving down the lane and he lobs it up for Lively for the alley oop slam!
Leonard with the kick out to Powell who caught it in motion and drills the three from the wing.
Leonard opens his account with a short pull up from outside the lane.
Kyrie on the board for the first time after a short leaner in the lane.
Leonard with the steal, and he missed the lay up but Zubac was there for the tip slam.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER WITH THE MAVS UP FOUR AFTER A GREAT DEFENSIVE START TO THIS GAME.
Luka has 12 points and Jones had an early five. George leads the Clippers with 8 points, but LA hit just 5 of their 20 FGs in the quarter. Kawki played 7 minutes and has 0 points.
Georg to the elbow and he sinks the mid range jumper.
Coffey into the lane and he drops the floater over Kleber .
Doncic with the kick out to wiing and Kleber is there for the three ball!
Doncic pump fakes from outside the lane and hits it off the glass with the defenders off their feet.
George to the line after the foul on Green and he hits both FTs.
Westbrook to the line after the foul on Green and he hits both FTs.
Timeout with 2:49 to go in the first quarter.
Luka with another three ball, this time on the step back from the other wing!
Plumlee to the line after the foul on Kleber and he hits one of two FTs.
Luka with the catch and shoot triple try from the wing!
Lively to the line after the foul on Plumlee and he hits one of two FTs.
Doncic with the step back and he hits the fader from a step inside the line.
Harden to the line after the foul on Lively and he hits both FTs.
We are at the first time out of the opening quarter! It's been a defensive battle so far.
Doncic with a baseball pass down the court for Jones who slams it home in transition.
Harden with the kick out to the corner and Mann drills the three ball!
Doncic down the lane and over the top to Lively who tips it in.
Harden to the line after the foul on Washington and he hits one of two FTs.
Jones to the line after the foul on. Zubac and he hits one of two FTs. Zubac has 2 fouls already.
George off the dribble and he pulls up from the top of the key for a deep two.
Doncic to the line after the foul on Zubac and he hits both FTs.
George on the curt and he turns on the jets for a one handed slam down the lane.
Jones gets us going with tip slam off the missed jump hook from Gafford.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM LA!!!
The Clippers get Kawhi back in the starting five tonight which is obviously great news, but how will that effect Paul George and James Harden who both had fantastic Game 1s. Shot distribution is going to be something to keep an eye on tonight with the Clippers Big Three who are joined by Mann and Zubac.
The Mavericks are going with the same starting five that they came out with in Game 1 on Sunday. Things didni't go exactly according to plan for Dallas, who got no production outside of their big two, but they will be hoping to change that here tonight. It's Luka, Kyrie, Washington, Gafford and Jones Jr.
The other guys
The Mavs need help. More specifically, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving need help. They scored 64 of the Mavericks 97 points in Game 1, and the third leading scorer was PJ Washington with just 11 points. It true that without Kyrie, Luka or both having a fantastic game it’s hard for Dallas to get wins but that doesn’t mean they can carry the team on their own. This team started to turn a new leaf after a midseason move was made to bring in Daniel Gafford from Washington. Gafford has just 3 points, Derrick Jones was held scoreless and Maxi Kleber scored just 3 off the bench in 27 minutes. Kyrie and Luka are going to get theirs no matter what, but the Mavs are going to need to get those guys early.
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Here comes Kawhi
The Clippers got a big break in the hours leading up to the game. The Clippers won Game 1 without leading scorer Kawhi Leonard, and tonight he was given the green light in Game 2 on Tuesday night. This year, Kawhi has stayed healthy. He has played 68 games so far this season which is the most he has played since 2016/17 when he was with the Spurs. In the 2021 playoffs Kawhi played 11 of the Clippers 18 games, then missed the entire next season to injury. Last year he played just two of the Clippers playoff games in a five game first round series that they would end up losing to the Suns. This year they are trying to avoid the same old story. Leonard hasn’t played since the Hornets game on the last day of March.
Dallas duo doubling down
Kyrie Irving came to Dallas midway through last season, and the question was always: how are he and Luka Doncic going to coexist on the same court? It’s not an easy question to answer, and for a long time the Mavericks didn’t have the answer. Towards the final few weeks of the season, things started to click and the Mavs surged up the standings to finish fifth in the West. Kyrie and Luka have very different styles of playing. Kyrie likes to run and gun, pushing the pace on the fast break while Luka likes to do his damage in the half court. Some how Jason Kidd found the perfect balance to have those two playing out of their minds at the end of the regular season. They both had great games in Game 1, with Luka scoring 33 and Iriving dropping 31, but it was far from enough for the Mavs to avoid defeat to open the series.
Superteam with super expectactions
The Clippers have had their ups and down this season after assembling a Superteam that may or may not be a couple years past their prime. While they are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning that doesn’t mean this team isn’t chalked with talent. With the talent comes some big personalities and the Clippers aren’t short of those. It’s been a process for Ty Lue to get everyone a share of the ball, a share of the points and a share of the stats but there have been times when this team has looked like the best in the league. There have been other times when they haven’t. James Harden is going to play a huge role in the success or failure of this team. He is the point guard, he is the orchestrator, and he is the only who is supposed to run the team making sure everyone gets their share. That can be tough considering how many shots he likes to take, but with Kawhi Leonard out in the opener, he had the green light to light it up.
Game 1 Recap
The Clippers received bad news just hours before their Game 1 win over the Mavs, when Kawhi Leonard was ruled out with a knee injury. That didn’t seem to slow Los Angeles down in the slightest. They went up double digits the first half as Paul George and James Harden picked up the slack. Harden had 28 points and eight assists and George dropped 22 points while Ivica Zubac added 20 points and 15 rebounds but it was the defense that made the difference. LA held the Mavs to just 30 points in the first half, and eight points it the second quarter to take a 26 point lead to halftime. Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic did combine for 64 points but no one else for the Mavs stepped up in Game 1. Dallas would make a run in the fourth quarter, but by then it was much too little and much too late.
We are live from the Crypt
Hello everyone and welcome to LA where the Clippers come into tonight flying hight after their wire-to-wire win over the Mavs. The 4 vs. 5 matchup was dubbed as the most mouthwatering matchup in the first round of the playoffs, but it didn’t seem to be all that even in the first game from LA. Dallas came out flat, and the Clippers had the game wrapped up by halftime. Tonight Jason Kidd’s team will try to even up the series and take home court away from a Clippers side that can take a big step towards the next round of the playoffs with a win tonight.
Mavericks vs. Clippers Game 2
The LA Clippers to the early advantage of their first round series with the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon, sinking the the fifth seeded Mavs in what was a relatively comfortable game for James Harden and the Clips. Tonight the Mavs looks to punch with with a win before the series shifts to Dallas, as the Clippers seek to double up on their lead over Dallas before heading to Texas. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from Crypto.com Arena.