DALLAS — The Los Angeles Clippers won a decisive 116-111 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4 of the first round of the NBA playoff series at American Airlines Center, taking the series to 2-2. The score was tied for defeat. Even without Kawhi Leonard due to knee inflammation, the Clippers performed well, reminiscent of their Game 1 performance, building a commanding 31-point lead by halftime.
“We're confident we can win the series. We're up for the challenge,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said before Game 4.
April 28, 2024. Dallas, Texas, USA.Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) defeats Dallas Mavericks
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Buoyed by great performances from Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, the Mavericks mounted a huge comeback in the second half, but ultimately fell short. Irving was particularly impressive, posting 40 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Doncic had a triple-double of 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists despite suffering from knee issues that affected his defensive mobility. He openly admitted that he had trouble stopping James Harden's 3-point shots, in particular.
“So, yeah, I was in foul trouble. We talked about trying to limit Harden's threes,” Doncic said. “I was trying not to give him 3s. Obviously it wasn't good, especially for me.”
Paul George emerged as a key player for the Clippers, leading the scoring with 33 points and contributing eight assists, six rebounds, and four steals. His three-point shot late in the game was crucial in clinching the victory. George reflected on the fierce competition between the team's top scorers.
“What this is about is just trying to put the team on your shoulders and make plays when it matters,” George said. “Harden was special from the beginning. He found something. Lately, he's found his rhythm in the pick-and-roll and one-on-one situations. Same with Irving. Kai is just deadly, But that's exactly what happened.''At the end of the day, both teams are trying to make plays to give their team a chance to win. ”
Harden had 33 points, seven assists and six rebounds, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and strategic adjustments throughout the game. He explained the need to adapt to the Mavericks' defensive scheme.
“Adjustments, you said that. If you can't make adjustments, if you can't change the game and still be effective, you're probably not going to make it to the next round,” Harden said. “It's probably not going to get very far. If they're going to take a three-ball, I'm going to the paint and I'm going to get a mid-range or a floater. If they want to come help, I'm My passing is a four step process and everything happens very quickly. [The] Most of the time I make the right decisions. ”
Describing the clutch-time scoring battles between Doncic and Irving, Harden emphasized the elite level of play and the strategic nuances that come with it.
“This is a show. You've got elite, skilled, Hall of Fame basketball players in there, so there's only so much you can do defensively,” Harden said. “Then you have to worry about other players scoring the basketball, and we're all obviously scorers. But we can also pass the ball, so it also makes it a little bit harder. It's about who makes the stops, and I think it was us who were able to make consecutive stops when we needed them. ”
Despite a late rally, the Mavericks' early struggles proved costly. They committed 16 turnovers and shot just 33.3 percent from 3-point range. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd talked about the need for more consistency and focus, especially in games without Leonard.
“We have to be better when Kawhi is out,” Kidd said. “For some reason, we tend to relax. So we have to deal with that as well.”
The series returns to Los Angeles for Game 5, with both teams preparing to adjust their strategies for another intense matchup. The Mavericks will have to go back to the drawing board and take a more unpredictable approach against the Clippers, especially in key moments.
