Mavericks Big Second Quarter Launches Them to Game Three Victory

Both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks split the first two games of this first-round series. With the series now in Dallas, the Mavericks wanted to show their hometown crowd that they have the potential to make a deep playoff run, and perhaps an NBA Finals appearance. With the Mavs outscoring the Clippers 36-18 during the second quarter, that big run supplied Dallas with a monumental 101-90 win over Los Angeles. The Clippers cannot afford to be down in the series 3-1, as they’ll look to come back with vengeance in Game Four. 

Los Angeles had themselves a five-point lead after one-quarter of play. Nonetheless, that would all change in the second quarter when the Mavericks put on an absolute show in the second quarter outscoring the Clippers 36-18 to take a 13-point lead heading into halftime. Dallas in that second quarter shot 64 percent from the field, and 57 percent from beyond the arc compared to L.A.’s 35 and 44 percent. Los Angeles also committed four turnovers while Dallas had only one. The Mavericks would pretty much hold down the lead throughout the second half and win this game 101-90. The biggest problem for the Clippers during that second half was their turnovers. Los Angeles committed 10 turnovers, and although they shot great from the field, that did not matter as the 10 turnovers compared to the Mavs three is what ultimately hurt the Clippers in this Game Three loss on the road. 

Luka Dončić finished this Game Three with 22 points to go along with his 10 rebounds, nine assists, and two steals. Kyrie Irving dropped 21 points in addition to having four rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Both and James Harden led the Clippers with 21 points apiece. Powell recorded 21 points on seven of 11 shooting, six rebounds, and an assist. Harden had 21 points, two rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block with five turnovers in the loss.