When the Clippers answered the Mavericks' 14-0 run with a run of their own, Luka Doncic decided to deliver a knockout blow.
LUKA DONCIC FOR 3 IN THE CLUTCH... IT'S GOOD
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2024
Mavs look to tie the series down the stretch in the 4Q on TNT pic.twitter.com/4QJOZH1GeH
Doncic hit a deep, contested three-pointer to give Dallas a nine-point lead late in their 96-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. It tied their first-round series 1-1 and spoiled the return of Kawhi Leonard to the court.
On the previous play, Doncic narrowly avoided a Paul George steal to find a wide-open Maxi Kleber to extend the Mavericks' three-point lead.
Maxi Kleber puts the Mavs ahead 87-81 down the stretch in the 4th quarter on TNT! pic.twitter.com/PnMtEfacZl
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2024
Doncic was just 11-of-26 from the floor and 5-of-14 from three-point range Tuesday, but the Mavs guard stepped up in the fourth quarter. He had four assists in the quarter, three of them leading to Dallas three-pointers.
12-0 MAVS RUN ‼️ https://t.co/OnVPstsGCQ pic.twitter.com/Ab5Uin5pzf
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2024
The Mavs lost Tim Hardaway Jr. to a sprained ankle, but they got outside shooting from Kleber and P.J. Washington in his stead (5-of-7 combined on three-pointers). Without Hardaway, coach Jason Kidd went with more defense-heavy lineups, which helped them hold Los Angeles scoreless for four-and-a-half minutes in the middle of the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks have shown they can win games when Doncic scores big. While 32 points is nothing to scoff at, Dallas won this one with defense and toughness. And some really big shots.
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