The Dallas Mavericks dunked their way to a strong first half. Then turned up their defense en route to a dominating win.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combined for 43 points and the Dallas Mavericks leaned on a rampage in the second quarter to get a 101-90 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, holding a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference opening round series.
Doncic finished one dime shy of a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, bucking a tough shooting night and withstanding rough plays all-game long from the Clippers’ Russell Westbrook.
MAVS WIN GAME 3 TO TAKE A 2-1 SERIES LEAD 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2024
Game 4: Sunday at 3:30pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/4NYDPM2zT7
Westbrook and PJ Washington got ejected in the fourth, after the 2017 MVP took a hard foul on Doncic, who did not like the physical play. Washington then raced towards Russ, who swung on moments later.
Both received technical fouls and got tossed out.
Russell Westbrook out here throwing punches while Luka continues owning the Clippers 😭🤣 pic.twitter.com/bOq4fyAzgx
— CarlosStory (@CarlosxcStory) April 27, 2024
Irving scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half for Dallas, who held Los Angeles to its lowest scoring output this season.
Kyrie changes pace and hits the TOUGH midrange J!
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2024
11 PTS in the 4Q... 21 for the game 🔥
Mavs seeking a 2-1 series lead on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/X3xbNVG3LW
Derick Lively and Daniel Gafford made their presence felt with a combined 21 points and five block output. Both Maverick big men had five dunks combined in the opening frame alone.
THAT'S OUR ROOOOK 🗣? pic.twitter.com/t6wMtwJeMD
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 27, 2024
Gafford also took matters into his own hands on the defensive end, blocking this Paul George slam dunk attempt early in the fourth with Dallas having a comfortable 84-67 lead.
" ;OH WHAT A BLOCK FROM GAFFORD!"
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2024
Daniel Gafford goes WAY UP for the rejection 🤯
Mavs seek a 2-1 series lead on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/8iouKqKMfc
After trailing at 23-18 in the opening frame, the Mavericks outscored the Clippers in the second quarter, 36-18, took a 54-41 halftime lead and never looked back.
Dallas swarmed its opponent with a stifling defense, forcing 19 turnovers for 29 points. The home team also had more steals and blocks--12 and seven--than Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, James Harden led the way for the Clips with 22 points, but only made seven after halftime. Normal Powell poured 21, while Ivica Zubac had 19 points and eight rebounds.
George dealt with foul trouble and finished with just seven points, five rebounds, five assists, and five fouls as Kawhi Leonard, in his second game back after missing nine games with right knee, never looked comfortable and had a sub-par nine points and nine rebounds.
The time Los Angeles was down 2-1 in a series was during last year’s playoffs--a six-game opening round defeat against the Phoenix Suns.
Game 4 of the series is on April 29, Monday (PH Time).
