Dallas Mavericks Defeat LA Clippers in Game 1! Luka Triple Double Subscribe! The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the first game of their round one NBA playoffs match up, 113-103. Luka Doncic led Dallas with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Kawhi Leonard was the high point man for LA with 22 points. The Mavericks looked good early getting a nice Kristaps Porzingis jumper to fall and getting to the line repeatedly as the Los Angeles Clippers looked asleep. Luka Doncic posted up Patrick Beverly repeatedly to draw two fouls and getting on the board easily. A Tim Hardaway three pushed the Dallas lead up to 17-6 before a Los Angeles Clippers timeout. Kawhi Leonard proceeded to take over the game for the Clippers, scoring in every way imaginable. Los Angeles methodically worked their way back into the game as the scorching early offense went cold. Though Luka Doncic and Brunson were able to score late, the Clippers pulled within three. The Mavericks led 33-30 after one. With Luka Doncic getting his first rest of the game, the Mavericks tried to steal minutes and hold on to the lead. An awesome Jalen Brunson offensive board led to a Josh Richardson three to help keep the Clippers at bay. Los Angeles finally tied the game on a Rajon Rondo three and took the lead on another a possession later. The Mavericks hung with the Clippers but two paint scores by Patrick Beverly to push the Los Angeles lead up to four resulted in a Rick Carlisle timeout. The Mavericks responded with an 11-2 run to close the half on the back of two Luka Doncic threes. Dallas took a 60-55 lead into the half. The third opened with the Mavericks trying to work Kristaps Porzingis into the game with little progress. In the second quarter, Kawhi Leonard essentially put him in jail, closing off any of his off ball movement by beating him to his spots before he could get there. Porzingis wasn’t able to score on either chance, turning it over in one of them and the Clippers tied the game almost immediately. Tim Hardaway Jr. answered with a tow point jumper and Luka scored six straight. The Clippers then opted to send doubles at Doncic for the rest of the frame. Los Angeles continued to work to close the gap, including a monstrous steal and dunk from Kawhi Leonard. Yet Dallas was able to hold the Clippers off, and took a 86-80 lead into the final frame. An odd line up started the fourth for the Mavericks: Doncic, Nicolo Melli, Dwight Powell, Josh Richardson, and Jalen Brunson. The ensuing strange offense, with Luka getting doubled and kicking to a variety of roll men resulted in no baskets for Dallas for the first two minutes of the frame. The Clippers pulled all the way back in and took the lead. Jalen Brunson then took control, scoring on two straight possessions and drawing fouls on each. Role players then traded baskets: Rajon Rondo for the Clippers and Dorian-Finney Smith for Dallas. Kristaps Porzingis found the bottom of the net for the first time since the first quarter with a roll to the rim and a dunk. After Los Angeles tied it at 100, Finney-Smith connected on his second huge three of the quarter to put Dallas up three. Kristaps Porzingis hit a pair of free throws to put Dallas up five and the game was over. Following a timeout, Kawhi Leonard missed a jumper and Dallas broke the Clipper press in a way that ended with a Porzingis dunk. The Mavericks take game one of the series with a 113-103 victory. #LukaDoncic #NBA #Basketball #Stellar #KawhiLeonard #PaulGeorge