Luka Doncic is playing despite having a sprained right knee, an injury that would usually keep him out during the regular season. He’s also been sick for a few days, dealing with congestion and illness, which makes him have to blow his nose during timeouts.
However, in Game 5, Doncic didn’t let any of these issues slow him down. Despite his health challenges and the efforts of the Los Angeles Clippers, he led the Dallas Mavericks to a convincing victory, putting them in a strong position in the first-round series.
Doncic scored 20 of his 35 points in the second half and contributed 10 assists and seven rebounds. Alongside him, Maxi Kleber made five 3-pointers, and Kyrie Irving added 14 points. The Mavericks tightened up defensively, handing the Clippers their largest playoff defeat ever.
Now, the Mavericks need just one more win to secure their first playoff series victory since 2022 and only their third since winning the NBA title in 2011.
“It was a very important game for us,” Doncic commented. “With this win, we just need to win one out of the next two games. We have to maintain our level of play when we return to Dallas.”
Game 6 will take place on Friday night in Dallas. If needed, Game 7 will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Despite his injured knee and apparent illness, Doncic has been a key player in the series. He became more comfortable and effective as the game progressed in downtown Los Angeles.
In the third quarter, Doncic scored 14 points, helping the Mavericks extend their lead to 25 points. By the start of the fourth quarter, they were ahead 89-69, and the Clippers never posed a serious threat, unlike Dallas’ comeback in Game 4.
Doncic admitted that his illness and knee injury have made things challenging, but the adrenaline of playoff games drives him to do everything he can to help his team win.
In their previous first-round encounter three seasons ago, Dallas also won Game 5 on the road and returned home with a chance to clinch.
However, the Clippers managed to win the next two games, claiming the series in seven games. Kawhi Leonard played a pivotal role in that comeback, but he has been sidelined due to his injuries in this series.
Paul George and Ivica Zubac each contributed 15 points for the Clippers, who played their second consecutive game and third of the series without Leonard.
Leonard’s absence due to right knee inflammation has posed a significant challenge for LA, especially at this crucial stage of the season. Despite winning twice earlier in the series without Leonard, the Clippers were unable to secure a victory in Game 5.
Leonard’s teammates struggled to step up in Game 5, with Dallas’ defense playing a significant role. The Clippers made only 9 of 35 attempts from 3-point range, a sharp contrast to their performance in Game 4 when they made 18 3-pointers.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd attributed their success to their game plan from Game 4, focusing on playing with speed while limiting the Clippers’ 3-point shots.
Paul George had a challenging game, shooting 4 for 13 from the field and missing four of his six 3-point attempts. James Harden also struggled, going 2 for 12 and missing six of his seven 3-point attempts.
Russell Westbrook, coming off the bench, had a tough time finding his rhythm, missing his first eight shots before finally scoring in the third quarter.
Despite the disappointing loss, George remained composed, acknowledging the team’s uncharacteristic mistakes and emphasizing the need for improvement, especially given the situation. He highlighted the team’s previous experience of being down 3-2 in a series, urging a win-only mindset for the upcoming game in Dallas.
Both teams substituted their starters midway through the fourth quarter, looking ahead to a potential closeout game in Dallas and giving key players some rest.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged their poor performance but encouraged his team to move forward, focusing on the next game.
Even though Doncic and Irving struggled with their 3-point shots in the first half of Game 5, Dallas still managed to get 12 points from Kleber before halftime. Kleber, known for his shooting skills, made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in this arena to defeat the Lakers just over a year ago.
The Clippers’ loss in Game 5 means they might have played their final home game at the downtown Los Angeles arena, which they share with the Lakers. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s new arena, the Intuit Dome, will open in Inglewood next season.
