The Clippers played the Mavericks at home, and Xiaoka finally chose to make a comeback. Both teams played a defensive battle in this game, so the shooting percentage was not high. In the first half, the two sides chased each other and fought evenly matched. The Mavericks launched a wave of counter-attacks in the final quarter and finally narrowly defeated the Clippers 96-93.
Xiaoka scored 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 1 block on 7-of-17 shooting, Harden scored 22 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal and 1 block on 6-of-14 shooting, and George had 22 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.
Harden doesn't shoot well, so his active offense is not strong, and it's more about organizing the team. Harden's motivation on the court has increased a lot, especially in the face of Irving's breakthrough layup, he delivered a wonderful block, which is impressive. But Harden also needs to step up his individual offense so that his deterrent power can be valuable.
Xiaoka In the game, we can see that his physical condition has not fully recovered and he does not dare to exert his strength. His first few offensive shots weren't good, and he didn't hit a mid-range shot until midway through the second quarter. But on the defensive end, he performed well, giving in steals one after another, showing his strong defensive skills.
George scored four points in a row at the beginning to show his good touch. In the game, his close defense effect was good, but George still needs to strengthen his attack, especially to focus on running, play more off-ball offense, and reduce some ball-handling offense, after all, his ability to handle the ball is insufficient, and there may be mistakes in the face of the bag.
Doncic is very sharp on the offensive end, with a quick counter-attack layup, a point-and-go shot against Harden, and an unreasonable three-pointer. What's even more terrifying about Doncic is that he is able to pass the ball to his teammates in time against a wrap-and-roll defense, and his view of the court is truly second to none.
The Clippers Mavericks battle has never lacked focus, and is also considered the most suspenseful set of matchups in the first round of the playoffs. The Clippers have excellent outside shooting, and their defensive prowess is no exceptional. The Mavericks have an Eastern European combination and are relatively good on the inside, so they are a very balanced team. But the Mavericks also have some problems, and their offense revolves around Doncic and Irving, so when they are limited, it is difficult for others to step up. Secondly, they have poor perimeter defense, which is fatal for them.