Doncic, Mavericks get Chippy Win Over Clippers – The rivalry was in full effect and it was a defensive battle. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers at home Friday night in Game 3, 101-90. Dallas now has a 2-1 series lead in their first-round matchup in the NBA playoffs.
Luka Doncic flirted with a triple-double scoring a game-high 22 points to go along with his 10 rebounds and nine assists. Kyrie Irving, who was asleep at the wheel in the first half, poured in 19 second half points and finished with a solid stat line of 21 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Dereck Lively, Derrick Jones Jr., and PJ Washington were the other three Mavericks to score in double figures. For the Clippers, Norman Powell and James Harden were tied for a team high 21 points. Ivica Zubac added 19 and eight boards for a Clippers team that struggled mightily to find their rhythm on the offensive end.
To start the game, it was old school basketball at its finest. It was all about the big men as the two centers combined to score the first eight points. For the Mavericks, the first two possessions were a sample of what was to come for the rest of the half. Daniel Gafford put in six of the team’s first 12 points and made his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Defensively, he is never going to completely stop the much larger Zubac, that outweighs him by at least 30 pounds, however, he did manage to contain him and make things difficult. He also met the challenge whenever he was called to switch onto someone on the perimeter. Offensively, his ability to score in the paint was critical at a point in the game when the Mavericks bricked their first eight attempts from 3-point range. The Clippers did not exactly light the world on fire from down town, going 1-of-5 from 3 themselves, hit a couple of 3s to end the quarter and that turned out to be the difference as the 1st quarter came to a close, 23-18.
The second quarter was much more free-flowing and easier to watch from a basketball perspective. Gafford was able to put his athleticism on full display with an incredible block that led to a Luka basket. A couple of possessions later, Josh Green broke the seal off the basket, knocking down the first Maverick three point shot of the evening. Moments later, Green was able to get a dunk in transition after a chaotic scene that involved three steals in as many seconds. Soon after, James Harden went back to his Rockets days and knocked down back-to-back 3-point shots. Luka was able to hit a step back three of his own and cut the Clipper lead down to four.
After Russell Westbrook committed a flagrant 1 on a Josh Green dunk attempt, it was all Mavericks from there. A 16-2 extended run, featuring several thunderous dunks by Lively, vaulted the Mavericks into the lead. Some hard-nosed tough defense and timely shots allowed the Mavericks to take a 13-point into the locker room, 54-41.
The third quarter began with a Doncic step back three. After two Terrace Mann free throws, Washington forced an impressive tie-up and block on consecutive possessions. Irving then went on a mini spurt, scoring four points in quick succession. Despite being clearly hobbled and fighting through an injury, he was able to penetrate and dunk on one possession and was the recipient of a lob seconds later. With just under five minutes remaining in the third, it was not exactly a shoot-out, with both teams combining for just 23 points. The last four and a half minutes were a up and down emotional roller coaster for fans of both teams.
After Gafford managed to stop the bleeding with a difficult hanging basket. Kyrie then took control and scored seven points in a blink of an eye and the Mavericks needed every one of them to hang on to their lead. After watching the lead nearly evaporate and get cut down to six, Kyrie’s timely buckets allowed them to stretch the lead back to 11 as the quarter ended, 78-67.
The fourth quarter was highlighted by the dustup that resulted in both Westbrook and Washington getting tossed. Westbrook, whose play is usually fueled by energy and passion, committed a foul on Luka. Westbrook complained to the officials then shoved Doncic when he came over to voice his displeasure with the foul. Washington, in defense of his teammate, gave Westbrook a light shove in the back and stood his ground when Westbrook pretended to charge at him. The bottom line is both players deserved to be ejected. Westbrook for his foul and Washington for the contact he made with Westbrook.
Getting back to the matters at hand, the Mavericks scored just enough points to keep the lead where it was and never allowed the Clippers to go on a run. It was a crucial home win for the Mavericks and one that proved they can be victorious in different ways. Game 4 is on Sunday and the Mavericks will have the opportunity to seize complete control of the series.
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Timberwolves Beat Suns for 3-0 Series Lead – The passing of the torch is happening before our very eyes. The Phoenix Suns are just one loss away from having their playoff hopes and dreams go up in smoke in a first-round exit, and an offseason that will be filled with more questions than answers.
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Suns by 17, 126-109 in Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday, pushing what was once thought of as a super team to the brink of elimination. Game 4 is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MST in Phoenix on Sunday (ESPN).
No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit.
It was a compelling and competitive game through the first 24 minutes, but the Timberwolves had a six-point lead at halftime then went on to push it into the 20s in the third quarter. Anthony Edwards, the former No. 1 pick out of the University of Georgia, once again showed everyone why he is on the verge of becoming a superstar if he is not their already, posting 36 points on an efficient 12-of-23 shooting, made all eleven of his free throws, plus nine rebounds and five assists.
“We got killed on the boards. This is a bigger, stronger team,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “We’ve got to compete and win the 50-50 balls. I thought our guys gave the effort, but it wasn’t enough.”
With the twin towers Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns both posting double-doubles and Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker both scoring in double-digits off the bench, it was a classic Minnesota win. And, unfortunately, a classic Phoenix loss at this point.
“We’re just embracing the moment,” Gobert said. “We have only one goal in mind and we’re trying to make sure we don’t get distracted by the success or the ups and downs. We’re just locked in.”
The trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal all scored more than 20 points, but they did not have enough help. Only one other player, Eric Gordon, scored in double digits. The Suns were already shorthanded, missing deadly sharp shooter Grayson Allen to an ankle injury, then had remaining starters Royce O’Neale and Jusuf Nurkic combine for three points on 1-of-8 shooting.
The Wolves never trailed on Friday.
“This is a team you need to dictate terms with,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “You don’t want to get behind big on them because of the way they can shoot the ball. That’s been part of our messaging, part of our emphasis, we have to get off to good starts.”
A win on Sunday will set the Timberwolves up against the winner of the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals. The Nuggets also hold a 3-0 lead in that series, and have a chance to sweep them on Saturday night.
