The Clippers hold off a late surge by Mavs to take Game 1 109-97
Los Angeles Clippers #1 James Harden (G) jump shot inside the key. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Clippers (1-0), without Kawhi Leonard (inflammation of the right knee) had a strong performance by James Harden with 28 points, Paul George with 22 points, Ivica Zubac with 20 points, and 15 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook and Terance Mann both with 13 points, held off a late surge by the Dallas Mavericks (0-1), came away with 109-97 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference Playoffs at the Crypto.com Arena.
"We obviously want Kawhi back when he's ready," George said. "The luxury we have experience with James, myself, Russ, Norm's been in big playoff battles."
The Clippers' defense allowed the Mavs starters Luka Doncic to score 33 points and Kyrie Irving with 31 points and held their other starters in check with power forward PJ Washington with 11 points, small forward Derrick Jones Jr. scoreless, and their center Daniel Gafford with 3 points.
The other factor for the Clippers' victory was their shooting from behind the three-point line, 18 of 36 for 50.0 %, compared to the Mavs' 10 of 33 for 30.3%, and turning the ball over only 12 times.
Ivica Zubac got off to a good start for the Clippers, scoring 8 points to give them an 18-11 lead in the first quarter.
"When I'm out there, I'm going to try to punish them in the post," said Zubac, in his sixth season with the team. "I want to be the best version I can be for this team."
Dallas Mavericks #77 Luka Doncic (G) pulling up for a three-pointer. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
Russell Westbrook, who came into the game, knocked down a three-pointer, and James Harden, with a three-point shot, gave the Clippers a 24-15 lead.
The Mavs would trail 24-18 after a three-pointer by Luka Doncic. The Clippers led by nine points, 29-20, after Harden pulled up for a three-point shot. Harden delivered for the Clippers just before the buzzer went off and made a three-pointer to give the Clippers a 34-22 lead to end the quarter.
Russell started the second quarter by gliding to the basket for a right-handed power dunk to give the Clippers a 36-22 lead. Dallas trailed 40-22 after a basket by the Clippers' Mason Plumlee and called a timeout with 10:17 left before halftime.
Los Angeles Clippers #13 Paul George (F) going up strong for a dunk attempt. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
Harden was fouled on his three-point shot attempt and made all three free throws to give the Clippers a 47-28 lead. Zubac gave the Clippers a 52-28 lead with a put-back basket after Paul George missed his shot.
The Mavs trailed 61-39 in the third quarter after Kyrie Irving's step-back jump shot. The Clippers would go up 75-52 with a three-pointer by Terance Mann from the right side of the basket. The Clippers led 87-64 at the end of the third quarter.
Dallas in the fourth quarter, trailed 100-83 with a step-back jump shot with 5:44 left in the game. The Mavs were hanging close 107-93 with a three-pointer by Irving. George would make the final shot for the Clippers, a three-point bank shot to seal the 109-97 victory, with Game 2 on Tuesday, April 23 at 7:30 PM.