Clippers-Mavericks: 5 takeaways from foiled Recreation 4 comeback – NBA.com

James Harden steps up, Dallas can't fairly catch up and issues are wanting up for LA with the collection now tied at 2-2.
Michael C. Wright
James Harden answered the decision for the undermanned Clippers in a vital Recreation 4 win.
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DALLAS — Little by little, LA’s 31-point lead disintegrated.
As soon as Kyrie Irving drove for a bucket with 2:15 left to finish a Dallas rally that lastly pushed the Mavericks forward 105-104, one thing fascinating came about.
“I checked out you, and also you had been wanting loopy,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue recalled. “I stated, ‘We’re OK.’ They’re a terrific staff. Kyrie and Luka [Doncic] are gonna make pictures. We knew they’d make a run. But in addition, we didn’t suppose we’d come into the constructing and be up 31 factors.”
It’s true Lue locked eyes with media members after Irving’s clutch bucket, mouthing “We’re OK” as deafening chaos unfolded at American Airways Heart, minutes earlier than LA closed a 116-111 win over the Mavericks in Recreation 4.
Regardless of lacking star ahead Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers now consider “we’ve seen the blueprint” for successful this collection, in keeping with guard James Harden. The series strikes Wednesday to Los Angeles tied 2-2 for Recreation 5 (10 ET, TNT).
In NBA historical past, groups breaking a 2-2 tie in Recreation 5 in a best-of-seven collection have gone on to take the entire thing greater than 80% of the time.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the matchup:
1. James Harden: ‘It was a present’
That’s how Harden described what transpired in Recreation 4. It turned out to be a famous person duo duel. The foursome of Harden, Paul George, Irving and Doncic mixed for 135 factors.
Harden and George got here collectively for 66 factors and 15 assists, turning into the seventh pair of Clippers teammates to complete a postseason sport with 30-plus factors. Irving scored a game-high 40 factors with seven rebounds and 5 assists, whereas Doncic notched his first triple-double of the postseason.
It marked Doncic’s fourth profession triple-double within the playoffs. Curiously, they’ve all come towards the Clippers.
“It was a present,” Harden stated. “It was elite, expert, Corridor of Fame basketball gamers going at it. There’s solely a lot you are able to do defensively. All of us are clearly scorers. However we will move as effectively. That makes it tough. I feel it’s whoever comes up with the stops. We had been those that acquired the stops consecutively.”
2. One other excellent quarter for Kyrie
We’ve now seen three quarters this collection through which Irving shot 100% from the sphere on 5 or extra subject purpose makes an attempt. Sure, Irving dedicated a playoff career-high seven turnovers in Recreation 4. However they didn’t knock any luster off an in any other case robust efficiency.
Irving hit 5-for-5 within the second quarter with a trio of 3s Sunday for 16 factors as Dallas lower LA’s lead from 31 factors to 17 at intermission.
Kyrie Irving scores 40 factors and practically helps Dallas pull off a historic comeback in Recreation 4.
Within the third quarter of Recreation 1, Irving hit 8-for-8 for 20 factors. Irving related on all 5 of his subject purpose makes an attempt within the second quarter of Recreation 2 for 16 factors.
The Mavs would possibly’ve accomplished the Recreation 4 comeback had they not scored simply 16 factors within the opening body earlier than falling behind by 31 factors. Dallas trailed all the second half till Irving’s layup with 2:15 remaining.
3. Silver linings in Kawhi Leonard’s absence
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank introduced forward of Recreation 4 that the staff had ruled out Leonard indefinitely as a consequence of proper knee irritation.
As devastating as that sounds, maybe LA ought to glean positives from this newest bout of adversity. The Clippers have proven the power to excel with out their brightest star, most not too long ago with their 2-0 file with out him up to now within the playoffs.
“It was apparent in Recreation 3 his mobility was severely restricted,” Frank stated. “Principally, till he can present he could make all of the actions he must make, that’s when he’ll come again.”
Leonard missed the final eight video games of the common season and the postseason opener. The Clippers completed 5-4 over that span, earlier than falling twice with Leonard again within the fold.
“After all, you all the time need to have your greatest participant,” Lue stated. “I feel the blessing in disguise for us is Kawhi lacking these final three weeks of the season and us having the ability to play a sure type with him being out. So, it wasn’t new for us to have the ability to play this type of basketball as a result of we’ve gotten apply.”
4. Paul George steps up
Dialed-up aggression from George manifested itself as one of the vital important byproducts from Leonard’s absence. The veteran wing scored 33 factors with eight assists and 4 steals.
Heading into the sport, Lue made certain to articulate how George’s function wanted to vary.
“He understands what we want from him, how we want him to play,” Lue stated.
Steering away from foul hassle checked in at No. 1.
Officers whistled George for 4 fouls in Recreation 1 and 5 in each Video games 2 and three. That restricted George’s aggression on the defensive finish whereas disrupting his means to fall into the stream of video games.
Lue alleviated potential points with fouls for George by taking away the assignments of guarding Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
By doing that, Lue hoped George would “be extra offensive-minded.”
The transfer labored to the tune of 26 factors for George on 9-for-14 capturing within the first half. The nine-time All-Star blistered Dallas from deep, hitting 6-for-9 on 3s. The Mavs, as a staff, shot 4-for-15 from vary over that span.
Curiously, Paul had related on simply seven 3s complete over the primary three video games of this collection earlier than shifting up Sunday to No. 14 all-time in postseason 3-pointers made.
George performed all the first and third quarters, ending with 43 minutes.
5. Harden handles enterprise
James Harden delivers a classic efficiency in Recreation 4.
Harden receives criticism for fizzling within the postseason. However by the primary 4 video games of this collection, the previous Kia MVP has confirmed to be LA’s most constant performer.
Harden entered Recreation 4 main the Clippers in factors (23.7), assists (7.0) and minutes per sport (41.7).
With out Leonard, they’d want much more.
The 34-year outdated delivered with an 18-point first half, hitting 6-for-8 from the ground and 4-for-4 from vary. Harden attacked the rack for six straight factors within the fourth to maintain the rallying Mavs at bay.
Harden difficult his afternoon by taking just one subject purpose within the third quarter, regardless of taking part in eight minutes.
His first bucket of the second half didn’t come till 9:45 remained within the sport on an 11-foot floater off George’s eighth help.
That modified within the fourth quarter, when 5 of his makes got here on floaters. Harden scored 15 within the last body, with 13 falling throughout clutch time.
“I’m blessed to have the ability to change it up and be a facilitator or scorer,” he stated. “I’ve been doing it all through the course of my profession at an elite stage. Recreation 1 we knew Kawhi was out. I needed to be extra aggressive. Tonight, we knew Kawhi was out. I needed to be extra aggressive. It’s fairly easy for me.”
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Michael C. Wright is a senior author for NBA.com. You’ll be able to e-mail him here, discover his archive here and observe him on X.
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