Luka Doncic had difficulty shooting again due to his sore right knee, while Kyrie Irving expended a lot of energy on defense.
Despite these challenges, the Mavericks’ co-stars teamed up in the second half, leading Dallas to victory in the second round of their first playoff appearance together.
Doncic scored 28 points and provided 13 assists, while Irving scored 28 of his 30 points after halftime, helping the Mavericks secure a 114-101 win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
With Irving by his side this time, Doncic achieved what he couldn’t three years ago—defeating the Clippers in Dallas in Game 6 of a first-round playoff series.
This victory marked the first time in three first-round encounters over the past five seasons that the fifth-seeded Mavericks beat the Clippers. They will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday night.
“We’re pushing each other to improve off the court, and when we’re on the court, it feels like we’re in sync,” Irving said. “It’s a good feeling.”
Paul George contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who won the first two games without Kawhi Leonard in the series but struggled to score in the last two games when he was sidelined with right knee inflammation.
James Harden scored 16 points and provided 13 assists, but he struggled with his shooting, making only 5 of 16 attempts from the field and missing all six of his 3-point shots.
Despite his efforts, the LA team was knocked out in the first round for the second year in a row, even after acquiring the 10-time All-Star earlier in the season.
“I have a lot of thoughts and emotions running through my mind right now,” Harden said. Kyrie Irving, who was added to the team last year during the trade deadline, spent a significant amount of time defending Harden in the first half. Harden only scored two points on six shots during this time.
In the second half, Irving made a layup to break a tie, and Luka Doncic scored a 3-pointer after missing all seven of his attempts in the first half. After a turnover by LA, Irving scored another 3-pointer, giving Dallas an eight-point lead after they had lost a 13-point advantage earlier in the game.
Dallas dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 35-20, similar to their performance in Game 5 in Los Angeles. They extended their lead to 20 points early in the fourth quarter.
Irving extended Dallas’ lead further with an impressive four-point play, making a leaning 3-pointer while being fouled by P.J. Tucker. He then made the free throw, giving Dallas a 106-82 lead.
Although the Clippers managed to go on an 11-2 run and reduce the deficit to 13 points, they couldn’t mount a serious comeback in the final minutes. George, Harden, and Ivica Zubac had each played at least 22 minutes in the first half to get LA back in the game.
“It caught up with us, and you saw that in the third quarter and into the fourth,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “We just ran out of gas.”
Doncic, who also dealt with illness and a sore knee, made 9 of 26 shots and just 1 of 10 from 3-point range. He was successful with 9 of 11 free throws. Irving performed better in the second half, making 10 of 13 shots. “I feel terrible. I need some rest,” Doncic said before ending a TV interview and taking a three-day break.
Now Doncic will attempt to replicate his playoff success from two years ago when Dallas surprised Phoenix with a blowout victory in Game 7 of the West semifinals before losing to eventual champions Golden State in five games in the West finals.
Norman Powell scored 20 points for the Clippers, and Zubac had 17 points and 11 rebounds. P.J. Washington contributed 14 points with crucial 3-pointers for the Mavs, making 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, while Daniel Gafford added 13 points with impactful baskets near the basket.
“They’re very important to our team culture,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said about the Mavs’ acquisitions during the trade deadline. “Our defense improved when they joined. They don’t complain. You don’t have to run plays for them.”
Dallas’ Maxi Kleber didn’t return after spraining his right shoulder when he fell hard after a blocking foul against Amir Coffey early in the second quarter. Kleber, known for his 3-point shooting in the series, returned briefly to shoot free throws, making one of two before leaving again.
