Clippers blown out at home falling 123-93 to Mavericks in Game 5
Dallas Maverick #77 Luka Doncic (PG) pulling up for a three-point shot in front of the Los Angeles Clippers #1 James Harden (G). Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES – The Dallas Mavericks came into Crypto.com Arena and embarrassed the Los Angeles Clippers 123-93, handing them their largest playoff loss in franchise history, taking a 3-2 series lead.
Luka Doncic had 35 points, seven rebounds, and ten assists for the Mavericks. Paul George and Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 15 points each. More concerning for the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard sat out his third game of the series due to knee inflammation.
Both his defense and scoring were sorely missed on a night where James Harden finished with only seven points despite averaging 26 points per game in the first four games of the series.
"He's allowed to have a bad game," said Clipper coach Tyron Lue about Harden. "He can play bad, it's possible. He didn't play well, so I have to do a better job of getting him in better situations."
Both teams battled to a standstill in the first quarter, with the Mavericks up 25-24 at the end of the first quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, a hobbled Doncic sliced through three Clipper defenders, finishing in the lane, giving the Mavericks a 43-37 lead. As he got up, he grimaced in pain, still nursing a sprained right knee from the last game.
Los Angeles Clippers #40 Ivica Zubac (C) jump shot in the key. Photo by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.
In the final minutes of the first half, Kyrie Irving threw a sensational half-court alley-oop to Daniel Gafford and finished with a slam dunk, giving the Mavericks a 54-44 lead. Dallas would take a ten-point lead into halftime, 66-56.
Things only got worse in the third quarter as Dallas went on a 17-2 run, and the Clippers went 6:22 without a basket, ending the quarter down 20 points, 89-69.
Midway through the fourth quarter, both teams pulled their starters, and the Maverick bench delivered the final knockout blow, growing the lead to 30 as time expired 123-93.
In what may have been the final Clipper home game at Cryto.com Arena, Los Angeles suffered their biggest home playoff loss in their 54-year history.
"We didn't play our best game," said Lue. "We understand that collectively, and so we'll be better for Game Six."
The Mavericks will try to close out the series at home on Friday at the American Airlines Center.