In Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, the Dallas Mavericks bounced back from a disappointing loss in Game 1 to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 96-93. Luka Doncic led the scoring for the Mavericks with 32 points and nine assists, while Kyrie Irving added 23 points. P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. also contributed significant points, scoring 18 and 10 respectively.
The Mavericks’ victory was fueled by a strong performance from Doncic and Irving, who combined for 19 of 44 shooting in the game. This marked an improvement over their performance in the first half of Game 1, where they struggled to find their rhythm and shot a combined 5 of 19. Irving’s crucial free throws in the final 12 seconds of the game sealed the win for the Mavericks.
Despite the Clippers’ inability to take advantage of Kawhi Leonard’s return, James Harden and Paul George each scored a respectable 22 points. Leonard, who had been out since March 31 due to right knee inflammation, contributed 15 points in 35 minutes of play.
In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors evened their first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks with a 104-101 victory in Game 2. Pascal Siakam led the way for the Raptors with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Myles Turner added 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three blocked shots for the Pacers, who ended a 10-game postseason losing streak dating back to 2018.
The Bucks, who were without star Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a calf injury, were led by Damian Lillard’s 34 points and Brook Lopez’s 22 points. Both players made six 3-pointers in the game.
In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves took a commanding 2-0 lead in their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns with a 123-97 victory in Game 2. Jaden McDaniels led the scoring for the Timberwolves with 25 points, while Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert each added 18 points. Despite a subpar performance from Anthony Edwards, who finished with 15 points on 3-of-12 shooting, the Timberwolves were able to secure the victory.
The Suns, led by Devin Booker’s 20 points, struggled to keep up with the Timberwolves’ offensive firepower. Booker shot 6-of-13 from the field but was only 1-of-6 from 3-point range.
The NBA playoffs continue on Wednesday with Game 3 of the series between the Mavericks and Clippers, as well as Game 3 of the series between the Raptors and Bucks.
