Luka Doncic scored 32 points, including key plays and buckets down the stretch, as the Dallas Mavericks spoiled Kahwi Leonard’s return with a nerve-racking 96-93 Game 2 win. This tied their West Round 1 series at one game apiece.
Luka Doncic TOOK OVER in the 4th quarter of Game 2 to help the @dallasmavs tie the series 1-1!
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2024
32 PTS | 9 AST | 6 REB | 5 3PM
Game 3: Friday, 8pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/RPDS1HX7Je
Doncic finished with 32 points, six rebounds and nine assists, including a cold-blooded triple with 1:26 left in regulation, to give the Mavericks a 90-81 lead.
Luka Doncic TOOK OVER in the 4th quarter of Game 2 to help the @dallasmavs tie the series 1-1!
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2024
32 PTS | 9 AST | 6 REB | 5 3PM
Game 3: Friday, 8pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/RPDS1HX7Je
The MVP candidate also found his teammates on several key possessions, first setting-up a Kyrie Irving triple before looking at a wide open Maxi Kebler on the right wing for a 87-81 lead with 2:07 lead in the final frame.
That's TUFFFFF 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XapyRqlpT7
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 24, 2024
Maxi Kleber puts the Mavs ahead 87-81 down the stretch in the 4th quarter on TNT! pic.twitter.com/PnMtEfacZl
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2024
Los Angeles trimmed the deficit to a single possession game at 93-90 after a Leonard bucket and Irving was fouled afterwards.
Kawhi Leonard scores through contact to cut the deficit 93-90 with 20 seconds left in the 4th quarter of Game 2 on TNT! pic.twitter.com/Bn1XBgwDCZ
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2024
The 2016 NBA champion made the first one but missed the second, only for Maxi Kleber to haul down the offensive rebound and Irving got fouled anew and this time knocked down both free throws.
Irving scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half with Washington adding 18 and Derrick Jones Jr. chipping in 10 for the Mavericks, who overcame the loss of big man Daniel Gafford and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Gafford hurt his lower back three minutes into the game, but returned in the second quarter while Tim Hardaway Jr. sprained his right ankle in the opening frame but didn't return.
Tim Hardaway Jr. 👀 pic.twitter.com/NZxjz4SR8u
— FastBreakPhenom (@FastBreakPhenom) April 24, 2024
After scoring a playoff-low 30 points in the opening half in Game 1, Dallas already surpassed that point early in the second frame of Game 2 with a Doncic basket and drilled 14 triples in the game to offset their 14 turnovers.
James Harden and Goerge led the way for the Clippers with 22 points each, with Leonard adding 15 in his first game in nine games. Ivica Zubac had a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds
Kawhi hit his first bucket in the early goings of the second frame on a patented mid-range jumper.
Kawhi gettin' to his spot 🖐? pic.twitter.com/wCi0GOAVK1
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 24, 2024
Los Angeles shot 37% from the floor and made just 8 of 30 3-pointers but the Clippers, plagued by poor shooting and trailing for much of the game, could not go over the hump.
Game 3 of the Western Conference playoff series will take place on Saturday, April 27, Philippine time.
