When the Clippers answered the Mavericks’ 14-0 run with a run of their own, Luka Doncic decided to deliver a knockout blow. Doncic hit a deep, contested three-pointer to give Dallas a nine-point lead late in their 96-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. It tied their first-round series 1-1 and spoiled the return of Kawhi Leonard to the court.
On the previous play, Doncic narrowly avoided a Paul George steal to find a wide-open Maxi Kleber to extend the Mavericks’ three-point lead.
Doncic was just 11-of-26 from the floor and 5-of-14 from three-point range Tuesday, but the Mavs guard stepped up in the fourth quarter. He had four assists in the quarter, three of them leading to Dallas three-pointers.
The Mavs lost Tim Hardaway Jr. to a sprained ankle, but they got outside shooting from Kleber and P.J. Washington in his stead (5-of-7 combined on three-pointers). Without Hardaway, coach Jason Kidd went with more defense-heavy lineups, which helped them hold Los Angeles scoreless for four-and-a-half minutes in the middle of the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks have shown they can win games when Doncic scores big. While 32 points is nothing to scoff at, Dallas won this one with defense and toughness. And some really big shots.
