Mavericks Sneak by Clippers to Take Game Two Victory
During Game One of this Western Conference first-round series, the Los Angeles Clippers were without their star Kawhi Leonard, but that didn’t matter as his team took a 109-97 win. With Kawhi back in the lineup for Game Two, the Clippers looked to impose how much damage this team can cause in the postseason. However, that wasn’t the case as the Mavericks got the hot hand in the fourth quarter to win 96-93 to take a Game Two win, tying this series up at one game apiece. Dallas has an opportunity to push this series wide open as they head back to Texas to play in front of their fans. The Clippers must take a game on the road either in Game Three or Four to head back to Los Angeles with the series tied at two.
These two teams put up a good fight in the first quarter, but the Mavericks walked away with a four-point lead. That four-point lead would stick with the Mavs as they walked into halftime with a 45-41 lead. Los Angeles outscored Dallas 25-20 during the third quarter to take a one-point lead with one final quarter left to go. During the fourth, both teams were tied at 73 with less than eight minutes remaining. Dallas went on an 8-0 run which ended on a Russell Westbrook three-pointer. Although the Clippers were down by a possession or two, they had a hard time either tying the game or taking the lead. Los Angeles was down 90-86 with 45 seconds remaining. P.J. Washington knocked down two free throws to give the Mavs a six-point lead with 34 seconds left. Paul George made both of his free throws to keep the Clippers down by four. Derrick Jones Jr. hit one of his two free throws to give the Mavericks a five-point lead, however a quick layup from Kawhi would put the Clippers deficit to just three points. James Harden committed two personal fouls on Kyrie Irving, who ended up making three of his four free throw attempts. Paul George would nail in a three as time expired, giving the edge to the Mavericks who took a wild 96-93 win to tie the series at one game apiece.
Luka Dončić finished this Game Two leading all scorers with 32 points in addition to having six rebounds, nine assists, a steal, and a block. Dončić’s partner in crime Kyrie Irving dropped 23 points with six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. P.J. Washington had 18 points and six rebounds in the win. Both James Harden and Paul George recorded 22 points each for the Clippers. Harden recorded six rebounds, eight assists, a steal, and a block. PG-13 had 22 points, two rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block. In his first game back, Kawhi put up just 15 points in the loss.
