The Clippers come home to beat the Mavs 97-91

Los Angeles Clippers #9 Serge Ibaka (F) two-handed monster dunk against the Dallas Mavericks at the Staple Center. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Clippers returned to their winning ways by beating the Dallas Mavericks 97-91 behind a strong performance by Paul George, scoring 29-points, Reggie Jackson 23-points, and Ivica Zuback 16-points and ten rebounds.

Today's game was also the return of Serge Ibaka, playing for the first time since being injured last year, played 12 minutes, and made 2 of his 8 shots for six points. Once Ibaka gets back to playing shape and regains his shooting touch, the Clippers will really be hard to beat.

The Clippers Head Coach Tyronn Lue hasn't been happy with the way his team has been playing up and down and knows it's just a matter of time for his players to get things right.

“It’s been a process, honestly,” Jackson said. “There are games when we play well and there are games where we hit these lulls and are still trying to figure each other out. … I think we all just found easier shots today.”

Ivica Zubac gave the Clippers a 1-0 after being fouled on his layup attempt and made one of his free throws. Paul George's jump shot gave the Clippers a 3-2 lead.

The Mavs led 7-3 after Kristap Porzings made two free throws. The Clippers trail the Mavs 9-8 after a dunk by George. Zubac layup gave the lead back to the Clipper 12-9.

The Mavs tied the game 12-12 with a three-pointer by Dwight Powell. Luke Kennard's three-point shot gave the Clippers a 15-12 lead. Serge Ibaka's two-hand dunk gave the Clippers a five-point lead, 17-12.

Dallas tied the game 19-19 after a jump shot by Jalen Bronson. Bronson's fall-away jump shot had the Mavs up 22-19 to end the quarter.

Dallas Mavericks #6 Kristap Porzingis (PF) jump shot from the left side of the court at the Staple Center. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.

Terrance Mann's layup in the second quarter had the Clippers trailing 22-21. Porzingis's jump shot gave the Mavs a 28 -23 lead.

Kennard's three-pointer made the score 28-26, and the Mavs called a timeout. George's jump shot had the Clippers down by five points, 35-30, with 5:46 left before halftime.

George drove to the basket and made a monster dunk that had the Clippers trailing43-38. Reggie Jackson's three-pointer made the score 45-44 with 33.4 seconds before halftime.

Porzingis's two free throws gave the Mavs a 47-44 lead. The Clippers trail at halftime 47-46 after Jackson made two free throws.

Zubac led the Clippers in scoring in the first half with 13-points, George and Jackson 8-points, and Kennard 6-points. Porzingis was the leading scorer for the Mavs with 15-points, Brunson with 9-points, and Powell with 7-points.

The Clippers led in the third quarter 55-52 after a jump shot by George. Jackson knocked down a three-pointer that gave the Clippers a six-point lead 58-52. When Jackson gets going making three-pointers and driving to the basket, the Clippers are almost unbeatable.

“When he is aggressive scoring the basketball, making the right play, we are a tough team to beat,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “For him to step up and be that second scorer behind PG, we need that a lot. When he plays well, we play well.”

Jackson's three-pointer had the Clippers leading by ten points, 64-54. The Mavs trail 66-60 after a left-hand dunk by Porzingis with 4:20 left in the quarter, and the Clippers called a timeout.

Mann's three-pointer gave the Clippers a 71-62 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Boban Marjanivic's hook shot had the Mavs trailing 71-64 in the fourth quarter. Ibaka's jump shot had the Clippers leading by ten points 78-68. Tim Hardaway Jr.'s three-pointer had the Mavs down 78-75.

Los Angeles Clippers #13 Paul George's three-point shot being challenged by the Dallas Mavericks #42 Maxi Kleber. Photo by Jerry Kelly/T.G.Sportstv1.

George's three-point shot increased the Clippers' lead to 81-75, with 6:49 left in the game. Jackson's driving layup gave the Clippers a twelve-point lead 87-75.

The Mavs cut into the Clippers' lead 88-83 when Brunson made a layup with 3:22 forcing the Clippers to take a timeout. Porzingis's jump shot at the top of the free-throw line made the score 88-85.

George would make a pair of free throws making the score 90-87. George's jump shot made the score 92-87, and the Mavs called a timeout. Porzingis's dunk had The Mavs down 92-89 with 1:19 left in the game.

The official underneath the basket called a blocking foul against Mann on Brunson, who scored, making the score 94-91, but the Clippers Head Coach Tyronn Lue had challenged the blocking foul, and the officials reversed the call and gave the ball back to the Clippers.

Jackson would ice the game for the Clippers with a pair of free throws to beat the Mavs 97-91. Porzingis led the Mavs in scoring with 25-points, Brunson 20-points, and Powell 9-points.

The Clippers will play the Mavs again on Tuesday at the Staple Center at 7:30 PM