The Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 135-133 in overtime on Sunday, tying the first-round series 2-2.
Superstar Luka Doncic led the way with 43 points, 17 rebounds, and 16 assists. He capped off the performance with an incredible step-back three to win the game at the buzzer. Doncic was questionable before the game due to an ankle injury, but he played through it and finished with a team-high 46 minutes.
Dallas took down one of the NBA’s leading title contenders without Kristaps Porzingis, who sat due to a sore knee. Porzingis had scored 22 or more points in nine of his 10 games in the bubble.
Doncic received help from multiple teammates, as Trey Burke scored 25 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 21 of his own. Seth Curry, who is now shooting 20-31 from the field in this series, contributed 15 points off the bench.
The loss stole the Clippers’ opportunity to rest before the second round, assuming they eventually take the series. Kawhi Leonard led his team with 32 points and nine rebounds. However, Paul George’s struggles continued as he finished with nine points on 3-14 shooting. Lou Williams had his best outing in the bubble so far, putting up 36 points, five assists, and four rebounds.
The Mavericks finished as the seventh seed in the Western Conference, but this win solidifies their status as a true title contender. They’ve scored 110 or more in all but one of their games in Orlando. They have forced their opponents to outscore their high-powered offense to beat them. However, Dallas’s defense has been suspect at best. The good news is their countless scoring options make them a nightmare to guard.
Los Angeles was heavily favored to win this series due to their star power and depth, but they’ve played uninspired basketball in these first four games. Williams and Montrezl Harrell, who are both finalists for Sixth Man of the Year, haven’t produced at their usual levels since returning from their trips outside of the bubble.
Not only that, but George can’t seem to break out of the slump that has seen him average 15.3 points and shoot 27% from the field and 20% from three in this series. For reference, he put up 21.5 points per game while shooting 44% from the field and 41% from three in the regular season. The Clippers will be in serious danger of bowing out in the first round if he doesn’t return to form soon.
Though Doncic is only 21 years old, he’s proven he’s ready for the spotlight. In just his fourth career playoff game, he carried his team to a hard-fought overtime victory over the West’s number two seed without the help of his talented wingman. He’s contributing 31.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 9.8 assists in the series, consistently decimating a Clippers team with numerous elite defenders.
A 3-1 lead for the Clippers would have all but wrapped up this series, but the Mavericks suddenly have a chance to pull off a historic upset thanks to Doncic’s clutch shooting. A second-round bid for Dallas would disrupt the postseason landscape, while such an early exit for the Clippers would be devastating considering the roster they built for this championship run.
Game five will be played on Aug. 25 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Jake Peter on Twitter @JakePeter_
Main Image Credit:
