Third time’s the charm for the Dallas Mavericks.
Finally, the Mavericks overcome the Los Angeles Clippers hurdle once and for all thanks to their dynamic backcourt tandem.
Kyrie Irving scored 30 points, while Luka Doncic added 28 points, as the fourth-seeded Mavericks booted the fifth-ranked Clippers out of the playoffs with a 114-101 Game 6 win and advanced to the West semifinal round for the first time since 2022.
Irving went ballistic and dropped 28 points in the final two quarters with six rebounds, four dimes, two steals, a couple of blocks, and five triples made in another scintillating second-half scoring display.MAVS ADVANCE TO THE WEST SEMIS ??#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/5vd4v0RbTB
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
Entering Game 6, the 2016 champion was averaging nearly 18 points in the second half. Doncic added seven rebounds and 13 assists, overcoming a poor shooting night. The Mavericks eliminated the Clippers in the playoffs for the first time, after falling short in their last two postseason meetings.OH MY GOODNESS KYRIE 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
Kyrie Irving sinks a RIDICULOUS 4-point play fadeaway to extend Dallas' lead on ESPN!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/K5L559adut
After a 52-all first half, the Mavericks used a rampaging third quarter--outscoring the Clippers, 35-20--and Irving’s scoring explosion to build a 87-72 lead after the third quarter.OH MY GOODNESS KYRIE 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
Kyrie Irving sinks a RIDICULOUS 4-point play fadeaway to extend Dallas' lead on ESPN!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/K5L559adut
Kyrie floater.
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2024
Kyrie 3-pointer.
DAL advances to the West Semis with a win on ESPN pic.twitter.com/Tgjs1oiaOI
Dallas then never looked back and led by as many as 24 points in the final frame en route to a dominating win at home and their first close-out win in two years. PJ Washington added 14 points while Daniel Gafford chipped 13 markers.
The Mavericks once again clamped down on defense to turn back the Clippers, holding Los Angeles to a dismal 26 percent shooting from three. They also held a 51-48 rebounding advantage, including a 17-14 edge in the offensive boards.
Meanwhile, Norman Powell led the way for the Clippers with 20 points off the bench, while Paul George had a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, but continued to struggle with a 6-of-18 shooting night.
Ivica Zubac collected 17 markers and 11 boards while James Harden chipped in 16 with 13 dimes.
The loss ended another disappointing Clippers season, who went all-in with the acquisition of former MVPs Harden and Westbrook but crashed out of the opening round for the second straight season.
With superstar Kawhi Leonard playing his most regular season games this year with 68 and averaging nearly 24 points, Los Angeles was poised to finally have a full-strength roster come playoff time. But Leonard missed the last three games of the series due to a right knee inflammation and never really played a full healthy season since joining the Clippers in 2019.
