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

James Harden steps up, Dallas can't fairly catch up and issues are trying up for LA with the sequence now tied at 2-2.
Michael C. Wright
James Harden delivers a classic efficiency to maintain the Clippers forward of the Mavericks regardless of a livid 4th-quarter rally.
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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 occurred.
“I checked out you, and also you have been trying 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 additionally, 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 Middle, minutes earlier than LA closed a 116-111 win over the Mavericks in Sport 4.
Regardless of lacking star ahead Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers now imagine “we’ve seen the blueprint” for successful this sequence, in accordance with guard James Harden. The series strikes Wednesday to Los Angeles tied 2-2 for Sport 5 (10 ET, TNT).
In NBA historical past, groups breaking a 2-2 tie in Sport 5 in a best-of-seven sequence have gone on to take the entire thing greater than 80% of the time.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the matchup:
1. James Harden: ‘It was a present’
That’s how Harden described what transpired in Sport 4. It turned out to be a celebrity 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 recreation 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 in opposition to 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 troublesome. I feel it’s whoever comes up with the stops. We have been those that received the stops consecutively.”
2. One other excellent quarter for Kyrie
We’ve now seen three quarters this sequence wherein Irving shot 100% from the sector on 5 or extra subject purpose makes an attempt. Sure, Irving dedicated a playoff career-high seven turnovers in Sport 4. However they didn’t knock any luster off an in any other case sturdy efficiency.
Irving hit 5-for-5 in 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.
Within the third quarter of Sport 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 Sport 2 for 16 factors.
The Mavs may need accomplished the Sport 4 comeback had they not scored 16 factors within the opening body earlier than falling behind by 31. Dallas trailed the whole 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 Sport 4 that the staff had ruled out Leonard indefinitely as a result 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 lately with their 2-0 file with out him so far within the playoffs.
“It was apparent in Sport 3 his mobility was severely restricted,” Frank stated. “Mainly, 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 wish to have your finest participant,” Lue stated. “I feel the blessing in disguise for us is Kawhi lacking these final three weeks of the season and us with 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 important byproducts from Leonard’s absence. The veteran wing scored 33 factors with eight assists and 4 steals.
Heading into the sport, Lue made positive to articulate how George’s position wanted to vary.
“He understands what we’d like from him, how we’d like him to play,” Lue stated.
Avoiding foul bother checked in at No. 1.
Officers whistled George for 4 fouls in Sport 1 and 5 in each Video games 2 and three. That restricted George’s aggression on the defensive finish whereas disrupting his potential 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 taking pictures within the first half. The nine-time All-Star blistered Dallas from deep, hitting 6-for-9 on 3-pointers. 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 sequence earlier than shifting up Sunday to No. 14 all-time in postseason 3-pointers made.
George performed the whole first and third quarters, ending with 43 minutes.
5. Harden handles enterprise
James Harden explains how essential Sport 4 was for the Clippers.
Harden receives criticism for fizzling within the postseason. However by way of the primary 4 video games of this sequence, the previous Kia MVP has confirmed to be LA’s most constant performer.
Harden entered Sport 4 main the Clippers in factors (23.7), assists (7.0) and minutes per recreation (41.7).
With out Leonard, they’d want much more.
The 34-year-old 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 sophisticated his afternoon by taking just one subject purpose within the third quarter, regardless of enjoying eight minutes.
His first bucket of the second half didn’t come till 9:45 remained within the recreation 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 degree. Sport 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 possibly can e-mail him here, discover his archive here and observe him on X.
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