DALLAS — In a significant matchup on Thursday night, the Los Angeles Clippers triumphed over the Dallas Mavericks with a score of 118-95, marking an impactful performance as the Mavericks faced the challenge of playing without their star players, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Doncic was sidelined due to a left heel contusion while Irving was out with shoulder soreness, setting the stage for the first of two matchups between the teams this week, with the next meeting scheduled for Saturday.
Klay Thompson, in his first season with the Mavericks, contributed significantly with 22 points, leading the team in scoring for the first time. Spencer Dinwiddie also made his mark with 19 points, stepping into the starting lineup for his first start of the season.
The game featured a tightly contested first half, with the Clippers holding a slight 50-49 advantage at halftime. The third quarter proved pivotal as Los Angeles outscored Dallas 39-28, exemplifying their shooting prowess by connecting on 69.6% of their attempts (16 of 23), while the Mavericks struggled with a mere 40% (8 of 20).
During the third period, Clippers guard Kris Dunn was ejected after committing a flagrant 2 foul against Jazian Gortman, adding a layer of intensity to the game.
Key takeaways from the game revealed that the Clippers dominated in bench scoring, totaling 33 points compared to Dallas’s 16. Harden exhibited remarkable efficiency from the free-throw line, going 10 for 10. Powell was instrumental in the second period, contributing 10 of his team-high 12 points in the first half, while despite his strong presence, Zubac didn’t register a rebound until 15 minutes had passed.
On the Mavericks’ side, their struggles from beyond the arc were apparent, hitting only 7 out of 30 attempts, which accounted for their lowest season totals in both makes and percentage at 23.3%. Despite their current situation, the Mavericks hold a record of 5-2 during games played without Doncic and 1-2 without Irving.
A significant moment in the game occurred when P.J. Washington’s runner brought the Mavericks within striking distance at 73-68 with five minutes left in the third quarter. However, Zubac’s dunk sparked a decisive 12-1 run for the Clippers, during which the Mavericks failed to capitalize on any of their four field-goal attempts.
The game also underscored the impact of missing both Doncic and Irving, as the Mavericks recorded a season-low score and faced their largest defeat this season, reflecting a challenging night lacking their combined 52.8 points.
Looking ahead, both teams will reconvene for a rematch on Saturday, with additional meetings scheduled for April 4-5 at Los Angeles, promising more excitement in this developing rivalry.