LA Clippers 154 Dallas Mavericks 111
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George lead the comfortable Los Angeles victory in the fifth game of the series (3-2), after Doncic’s exhibition last Sunday.
Kawhi Leonard on a pass off Luka Doncic.
After the memorable performance of the fourth match, Luka Doncic was check on their meats why the Clippers are candidates for the ring. The Slovenian gave signals from the beginning that his left ankle discomfort has worsened in recent days, but his biggest problem was the awakening of Los Angeles. They have reached the NBA bubble a month late, but the business card is resounding: victory by 154-111 to leave the Mavericks on the brink.
The Clippers are the best equipped team to defend players like Doncic. They have hard and versatile eaves to spare to make him suffer in the melee, make him uncomfortable as they had only achieved in the third match of the tie. After Sunday’s exhibition, he paid penance: 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists with very limited impact (6/17 shooting, 5 losses). The Slovenian received treatment on the bench, he let out gestures of pain and some doubt, but the Los Angeles merit outweighed more.
Los Clippers they sent the Mavs to the canvas in the first quarter with a 32-6 run. And the best news was not the result, but the protagonist, Paul George. The Californian forward confessed to having had psychological problems in the bubble and having needed the help of specialists to get out of the pothole in which he was stuck. After a dismal start, he was afloat with 35 points in just 25 minutes. Since the possession clock exists (1954), no one had scored that much in the playoffs in such little time.
At last George seconded Kawhi Leonard, who with his disarming effectiveness finished with 32 points in half an hour. Dallas had no brakes for the avalanche above: The Clippers scored 154 points on a 76.2% effective shooting percentage. Nobody had placed so many triples (22) with such success (62.9%). After the slap on the wrist from his coach, Doc Rivers, the intensity rose on both hoops.
Perhaps once beyond what is right. Doncic declined to comment when asked if he believed Marcus Morris’s stomping in the injured ankle had been involuntary:
After the improvement of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks in the last games, the Clippers should finally present arms in Orlando. Doncic and the Mavs suffered, even without Kristaps Porzingis. On Thursday, first round with elimination at stake.
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