In an atmosphere reminiscent of the great evenings of the play-offs, in front of nearly 17,700 Texan fans – the biggest attendance recorded this season in the NBA – the Los Angeles Clippers managed to relaunch their series against the Dallas Mavericks ( 118-108), yet very poorly embarked after two games lost at Staples Centers (1-2).
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The first minutes of the game, electric, had not yet reassured as to the ability of the Angels to finally launch their play-offs, the fault of an untenable Luka Doncic (44 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists in the end) which allowed his own to go through a 30-11 in seven minutes. A great way to celebrate this first play-off game at home for Doncic, who had lived his first playoff campaign in the Orlando bubble last summer.
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The 14-0 inflicted in return by the visitors finally launched the debates in an evening that ended up turning to their advantage. ” We had to stick to the plan, added their coach Tyronn Lue. Luka always starts by scoring his shots. As in the first two games, Kawhi Leonard (36 points at 13/17, 8 rebounds) and Paul George (29 points at 11/18, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) were the main contributors to the Clippers, who mainly made the difference by finding a good global address (57.9%). Nicolas Batum, used off the bench, compiled 8 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 27 minutes.
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The disappointing lieutenants of Doncic
As the Mavs pushed into the fourth quarter to pick up again, three award-winning shots from Marcus Morris (15 points) kept them at bay while Doncic found himself too lonely in the offensive animation. ” They were very good and not us, summed up coach Rick Carlisle. The audience was awesome. He was really into it. We need to involve it even more by finding a way to make more stops and take more rebounds. »
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The Slovenian could not really count on Tim Hardaway Jr. (12 points to 4/14) nor Kristaps Porzingis (9 points to 3/10), both disappointing and not very influential at the end of the match. ” I had some good shots and I missed them, railed the Latvian interior. It frustrated me to miss those shots. But I must not let that affect my game. »Doncic, grimacing because he was embarrassed by a painful left shoulder, left a few points on the throw line (7/13), leaving the Clippers spinning towards a rather well-deserved success. It will have a new opportunity to offer the public ” his first victory ” Sunday.
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48,1 %
Luka Doncic’s success percentage on free throws since the start of the series (13 of 27). The Slovenian is less skilful there than in the game, where he returns more than half of his shots (51.9%).
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