Clippers win battle with Mavericks

LOS ANGELES – The afternoon tip-off between the Qui-Les Clippers vs. Luca-Les Mavericks proved to be quite the suspense, with the Clippers winning 97-91 on Sunday.

The Clippers and Dallas (9–7), each of the previous two seasons’ first-round playoff enemies, met for the first time this season.

After a seven-game winning streak, The Clippers (10–7) were back on track after losing three of four games (in which the Pelicans took a 20-point lead, which had previously won just two games).

Paul George, the Clippers active star, finished with a game-high 29 points – a tally that included six of the Clippers’ last 10 points as they won the first of two games against Dallas before a crowd of 17,149 Had it. of a six-game homestand at Staples Center.

Ivica Zubaik recorded her fifth double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Reggie Jackson had 15 of 23 points in the second half—the eighth time he has scored 20 or more this season, a sign of good things for L.A., who haven’t lost any of those games.

And, in addition to the game plan, coach Tyrone Lew came up with a clutch challenge – asking for a review that turned a defensive foul on Terence Mann into a charge on Jalen Brunson. This took two points away from Dallas and gave the Clippers back rights, leading to a tempting layoff by Jackson that pushed the Clippers’ lead to 96–89, with 29 ticks remaining.

Dallas superstar Luka Doncic missed his third game in a row (all losses) with a left knee and ankle sprain, but the Mavericks regained the services of Maxi Kleber, who had missed the last nine games with an oblique strain .

Playing again without Kawhi Leonard (ACL) and Marcus Morris Sr. (Knee), as well as rookie Jason Preston (Leg), the Clippers remained well short of full strength. Starting ahead Nicolas Batum missed Sunday’s game in accordance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the team announced shortly before tipoff.

And Serge Ibaka is back again. After playing two games (in which he went without a score for 14 minutes) and then volunteered to spend four games with Ontario leaders Caliente Clippers to get back on track.

Early evidence suggests it worked: Ibaka scored four points in her first minute of action and finished with six points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.

in the second quarter, George hit Dwight Powell with a snarling dunk To give the crowd a jolt, and Jackson warmed up with consecutive 3-pointers—including one “from the parking lot”, as described by Arena’s public address announcer Eric Smith. Just as key: Zubaik remained on the offensive as the Clippers erased most of the nine-point deficit and trailed 47-46 at halftime.