The Clippers vs. the Mavericks
Leonard, the star of the Los Angeles Clippers, played two games in the first-round series with an injury in tow. But sadly, the team lost without exception, allowing the Mavericks to take the initiative to take a 2-1 lead in the series. From an objective point of view, the Clippers without Leonard seem to be performing better. You must know that in these three games, Harden is the player with the highest scoring contribution in the team, like the image of the team's savior. On the contrary, the Cacho combination became a burden to the crotch-pulling team.
And this game, they continue to play a crucial G4 matchup against the Mavericks on the home court of the Mavericks. To be sure, the situation is not very rosy for the Mavericks. If they lose again this time, it will mean giving their opponents a match point. Even in the next G5 battle, it will be difficult for them to return to their home stadium and regain the initiative to regain the series lead. In this matchup, Leonard was absent, and the Clippers were able to play a 116-111 total score under the leadership of George and Harden, thus dragging the series into the battle of Kings Mountain.
The specific results
In the first quarter of the game, the Clippers, who were playing away, maintained an extremely hot state, thus gaining the initiative to lead the score. George played the full 12 minutes of the first quarter, shooting 6-of-9 from the field and delivering 16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal, while Harden also contributed 5 points and 3 assists to help the team play a 39-16 lead and take a 23-point lead. And entering the second quarter of the matchup, the Mavericks can also launch a strong counterattack. Irving stepped up and also delivered 16 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists with 100% shooting in a single quarter, as well as PJ Washington, who handed over 7 points and 2 rebounds, to help the team play a 33-27 score.
Yibian fought again, and the Mavericks, who achieved good results in chasing points, can further narrow the difference between the two sides. In the third quarter of the game, Doncic was also able to find his form, shooting 3 of 8, 2 of 4 free throws, sending 8 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, Irving also had 10 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist, and Jones Jr., who handed over 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 block, continued to play a score of 29-16 and narrowed the gap to 4 points. But unfortunately, in the final quarter of the decisive game, Harden showed a big heart, shooting 6 of 8, 3 of 3 free throws, and delivered 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, leading the team to a score of 34-33, rejecting the Mavericks' reversal, and helping the team to a total score of 116-111 to achieve the final victory.
epilogue
Looking back at the stats of that game, the Clippers without Leonard's help seemed to have broken the shackles. George played 43 minutes in this game, shooting 7-of-10 from three-point range and 11-of-19 from the field, delivering a crucial 33 points, as well as 6 rebounds and 8 assists. And Harden can also go down to earth, not only contributed a key 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the final quarter, played 40 minutes in the whole game, but also had an efficient shooting rate of 4 of 5, handing over 33 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, helping the team drag the series into the battle of Tianwang Mountain.
On the other hand, the Mavericks who lost at home, they did their best. Doncic played 45 minutes and also delivered a triple-double of 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and Irving even made 6 of 12 three-pointers, shot 14 of 25, and delivered 40 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. In addition, Jones Jr. also had an efficient shooting rate of 6 from the field, delivering 14 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist, but he could only be powerless. After losing this game, the series score was tied, and the Mavericks will go to the home court of the Clippers for a crucial G5 battle, and the situation is obviously not optimistic.