The Clippers fall 127-121 in Game 2 against the Mavs
Los Angeles Clippers #1 Reggie Jackson (PG) looking over the Dallas Mavericks defense. Photo by Larry Salazar/TGSportstv1.
DALLAS, TX - The Los Angeles Clippers, down 2-0 in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs, have tied the series 2-2 on the road after beating the Dallas Mavericks 118-108 in Game 3 and 106-81 in Game 4.
The Clippers head coach Tyronne Lue had seen enough after losing the first two games at the Staple Center, and made a change in the starting line-up, adding Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum paid off.
During Game 3, the Clippers showed heart and grit being down by nineteen points rally back for the win to stun the Mavs at the American Airlines Center. Jackson's ability to drive to the basket, and make shots. rebounding, and his defense is one of the reasons they have won two games in Dallas.
In Game 3, Kawhi Leonard had 36-points, Paul George 29-points, Reggie Jackson 16-points, and Marcus Morris Sr. with 15-points. Kuka Doncic scored 44-points for the Mavs.
Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard's one-hand power dunk. Photo by Larry Salazar/TGSportstv1.
In Game 4, Leonard scored 29-points, George 20-points, Reggie Jackson 15-points, and Nicolas Batum 10-points. Luka Doncic scored 19-points, Kristaps 18-points, and Boban Marjanovic 12-points for the Mavs.
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard set the tone for the Clippers in Game 4 at halftime, led the Mavs 61-45. George scored 18-points, Leonard 17-points, and Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum both with 7-points.
Luka Doncic led the Mavs in scoring with 15-points, followed by Kristaps Porzingis with 12-points. The Mavs made 19 of 50 shots from the floor for 38.7 percent, and the three-point arc 3 of 16 for 18.8 percent.
The Clippers shot the ball well, made 22 of 42 shots, 52.4 percent, and from three-point range 7 of 17, 41.2 percent, and points in the paint the Mavs 26, and the Clippers 28.
Los Angeles Clippers #13 Paul George (F) shooting a three-point shot from top of the key. Photo by Larry Salazar/TGSportstv1.
Leonard was getting to the basket with ease and kept the pace up for the Clippers making it hard for the Mavs to set up their defense.
"The pace and the speed he's playing with is what we need," the Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said. "It's unbelievable."
You could see it on Doncic face that he was playing in pain with a neck injury and was trying to keep his team in the game had nineteen points, and Porzingis sixteen points as the Mavs trail the Clippers at the end of the third quarter by twenty-two points 82-60.
"I don't think that matters right now," Doncic said. "Injuries are a part of basketball. I was 100%. But I played terribly. Just got to move on to the next one."
The Clippers closed out the fourth quarter scoring twenty-four points to beat the Mavs 106-81 and tie the series 2-2 and head back to Los Angeles to play Game 5 at the Staple Center on Wednesday.