Prior to tip off of Game 4 of the first-round playoff series between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers, Lawrence Frank, Clippers’ president of basketball operations, revealed that Kawhi Leonard will be on the shelf indefinitely as he struggles to deals with right knee inflammation
Similar to Game 1, when the Clippers overcame playing without their superstar Leonard in the lineup and led by as many as 29, a red hot first half by Los Angeles in Game 4 on Sunday resulted in a lead as hefty as 31 before halftime. While the Mavericks went on to hold a tenuous lead of one point late in the fourth quarter, the Clippers ultimately came out on top with a 116-111 victory to knot the series at 2.
“This is like Game 1,” Kidd said. “Early game, for whatever reason we just haven’t played well. We’ve gotten off to slow starts. That’s just something that we’ve got to talk about as a team. If there’s another afternoon game, we’ve got to make sure we’re ready to go from the jump and we can’t wait.”
Paul George and James Harden stepped up big time when their team needed them most without Leonard being available. George put up 26 of his 33 points before the break, while Harden was great in his own right, adding 18 points and five assists during that span. The Mavericks knew going in of the possibility of both George and Harden having spectacular performances as the clear-cut focal points and go to guys of the offense but could not stop or contain them no matter what they tried.
“We knew they would make a run,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
“But also, we didn’t think we’d come into this building and be up 31 points either. So, I told our team, just get the win, however you’ve got to get it. In the playoffs, it don’t matter how you win.”
It was not until the 10:14 mark of the opening quarter when Luka Doncic, who was upgraded from being a game-time decision due to right knee soreness, which he injured in Game 3 Friday night, drew a foul on a drive that either team put any points on the board. It was a 4-0 start for the Mavericks, with all of the points scored by Doncic. The momentum turned in the Clippers’ favor quickly, using a 9-4 spurt to take a 9-8 lead.
Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his fourth career playoff triple-double, all against the Clippers, while clearly struggling with right knee soreness.
“He did everything he could,” coach Jason Kidd said. “I thought he competed on both ends. He put us in position to take the lead there in the fourth. We just came up short.”
The Clippers did not take their foot off the gas, getting a 24-10 advantage after Russell Westbrook hit a corner 3 and gave the Mavericks’ bench a piece of his mind, followed by George using a set-back move to create space for a mid-range jumper. With George on fire, connecting on another 3-pointer, the Mavericks trailed by 22, 36-14, with George’s 16 points in the period being as many as Dallas had as a team while lifting the Clippers up by a 23-point margin.
Embed from Getty ImagesComing out of the quarter break, the Clippers continued to pour it on the Mavericks, ultimately leading by as many as 31 points in the frame after Harden hit a step-back perimeter shot. Dallas refused to roll over, making an effort to rally by closing the half on a 25-11 surge, making it 66-49 in favor of the Clippers going into the locker room.
With the enthusiasm and energy of the American Airlines Center crowd spurring them on, the Mavericks made a massive push to almost completely evaporate the Clippers’ lead. Dallas extended its run to 27-12 after Irving hit a 3-pointer off a handoff from Jones, slicing the Clippers’ lead to just two, 78-76.
To start the fourth quarter, the Clippers were able to take advantage of the Mavericks’ offense cooling sputtering, using a 10-3 run to begin the period to regain an 11-point edge. With both teams exchanging baskets.
Irving attacked a fly-by using a shot fake by dribbling to open space then using a second shot fake for a tough, contested 3-pointer, bringing the Mavericks within eight points, 92-84. Later, a transition grab-and-go attack from PJ Washington created a three-point play opportunity to bring Dallas within 97-92 with 6:07 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks tied it up on several occasions in clutch time, once with a step-back 3-pointer from Doncic and another with Irving going into his tool box using a floater. However, Harden made everyone ‘fear the beard’ with a series of timely floaters to prevent the Clippers from giving up the lead by scoring six consecutive points, putting Los Angeles back up 104-100.
“I’m blessed to be able to change it up and be a facilitator or a scorer,” Harden said. “My mindset coming to this team was doing whatever it takes to win and get to the end goal. Whether that’s scoring or facilitating, I think it goes possession by possession and game by game.”
Multiple huge plays from Irving shifted the momentum in the Mavericks’ favor, between a 3-pointer and a drive and finish, creating a 5-0 run to push Dallas ahead 105-104 with 2:14 left in regulation. He continued to come through like the champion he is by provide needed late-game heroics for his team throughout the series.
George answered the call, coming out of a timeout with a Larry Bird-like fadeaway corner 3 to put the Clippers ahead by one. After Irving bricked a giant killer, Harden attacked the basket for an and-one floater with 1:20 left to play.
Doncic drew a foul on a drive and knocked a pair of free throws, but Harden responded once again with another timely bucket to keep the Clippers up by five. Dallas came up empty on its next possession, forcing them to foul. There was not enough time to complete the comeback.
Both teams will resume the series on Wednesday, May 1, when they play Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena.
