Clippers 126-144 Mavericks (11 Nov, 2023) Game Recap،
DALLAS — Luka Doncic scored 44 points and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 144-126 Friday night in an NBA In-Season Tournament game, the Clippers’ third straight loss since James Harden joined the roster .
Doncic was 17 of 21 from the field, making 6 of 9 from 3-point range. Kyrie Irving added 27 points, hitting 5 of 8 3-pointers, to help Dallas improve to 1-1 in the tournament after an opening loss at Denver.
“I keep saying it’s not just the two of us,” Doncic said of himself and Irving. “We’re getting stops. Everyone contributes. So there are not just two of us. Everyone helps us.
The Mavericks took control with a 47-18 second half and a 33-4 first-half run that included 17 straight points, eight to end the first quarter and nine to start the second quarter. Their largest lead was 32 points early in the third period. They reached 100 points with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third and finished with their highest point total of the season.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers, who have lost four straight games overall, with 26 points in their tournament opener. Harden, who joined the team last week following a Nov. 1 trade from Philadelphia, had 14 points, all in the first quarter. Russell Westbrook also had 14.
“The first quarter went really well on both sides of the ball,” Harden said. “From there, everything went downhill. I try to find a balance between not trying to step on anyone’s toes, but just trying to be aggressive myself.
Harden stressed that it’s still early in his transition to the Clippers and he’s still trying to figure out “everything.”
“I didn’t have training camp. I didn’t have a preseason,” Harden said. “Everything is still moving at a fast pace for me. I need about a 10-game window and then I’ll see where I’m at.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said the key to Harden’s success will involve keeping a big man on the court with him. Los Angeles is currently using smaller lineups than usual with backup center Mason Plumlee lost for several months due to a sprained MCL.
“Because of the way he handles the pick and roll,” Lue said. “He can go down and make every play.”
Los Angeles’ Paul George was held to eight points. Leonard, Westbrook, Harden and George did not play in the fourth period.
The Clippers scored the first eight points and led 31-19 before the Mavericks took over. Dallas led 77-51 at halftime, 10 points more than its previous highest-scoring first half.
The Mavericks suffered their first home loss of the season on Wednesday, 127-116 against Toronto.
“I thought it was a great bounce-back game,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “Luka set the tone, Kai, those two set the tone tonight, and the guys followed.”
The game was not played on the Mavericks’ special court for the tournament due to what the NBA called a “manufacturing issue” with the court.
FOLLOWING
Clippers: Host Memphis on Sunday.
Mavericks: At New Orleans Sunday night for a regular game and Tuesday night for a tournament game.
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