Clippers defense keeps Mavericks in check in Game 1 win

Heroes abound for the Clippers as they test the Mavericks, even without star Kawhi Leonard, who is out with a knee infection

James Harden scored 28 points and Ivica Zubac set his playoff career high with 20 while adding 15 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers made a statement in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference series with a 109-97 win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, April 21 (Monday, April 22, Manila time).

The fourth-seeded Clippers played without star Kawhi Leonard due to a knee infection, but they had enough to get past the Mavericks, getting 22 points from Paul George and 13 points from Terance Mann and Russell Westbrook. Mann had 9 rebounds while Harden had 8 assists.

“Obviously Kawhi puts us way over the top, but we still have more than enough,” George said. “The luxury we have is experience with James, myself and Russ; (Norman Powell) has had big playoff battles. … We still have experience. We want Kawhi back when he’s ready, but I think we still have enough to move forward.”

Los Angeles’ high-level defense was there from the start, holding Dallas to just 8 points in the second quarter and 30 in the first half. The Clippers led by as many as 29 points in the third quarter.

“Playing without Kawhi, knowing how to play, it was just huge for us to see,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said of missing Leonard for the final eight games of the regular season. “It was a bit of a blessing in disguise. We all know we need Kawhi, but we found a way we had to play.”

Luka Doncic scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Kyrie Irving added 31 points for the Mavericks. Dallas had an impressive end to the regular season, as it won 16 of 18 games before using mostly reserves in the final two games, both losses, after the playoff seed was determined.

PJ Washington scored 11 points for Dallas, which shot 22% from the field in the first half and just 9.5% (2 of 21) in the second quarter as the Clippers turned a 34-22 lead into a 56 lead -30 at half time. .

Mavericks center Daniel Gafford played just six minutes in the first half after rolling over his left ankle, but he returned in the second half. Irving was 1 of 6 from the floor in the first half, while Doncic was 4 of 13. The star duo was 1 of 10 from three-point range in the first two quarters.

“We were obviously prepared the way Leonard would play, but that shouldn’t change our mentality,” Doncic said. “Their mentality was ‘next man up’ and I think they did that very well. … But it’s the playoffs. We just have to stay focused for 48 minutes.”

Dallas was much improved in the third quarter, scoring 34 points to top its first-half total, but the Mavericks still entered the final period trailing 87–64. Irving had 20 points in the third quarter on 8-of-8 shooting.

“We dug ourselves a hole, but the positive was we kept fighting out there in the second half,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “We expected the Clippers to come out and be physical, but we just didn’t respond to their physicality in that first (half).”

The Mavericks pulled within 90-75 on a Doncic three-pointer with 8:24 remaining. Los Angeles quickly pushed the lead to 100-78 on a Mann three-pointer with 6:12 left and cruised to victory from there.

The Clippers shot 46% from the floor, while the Mavericks finished at 38.8%.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles. – Rappler.com