DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks made a remarkable comeback in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, overcoming a daunting 31-point deficit. However, they fell short in the final stages and lost 116-111. The series is currently tied at 2-2, and both teams will battle for control until we return to Los Angeles.
The standout player for Dallas was Kyrie Irving, who poured in all 40 of his points after a dominant first quarter for the Clippers, including a crucial layup that briefly gave the Mavericks a lead late in the game. It was included. Despite Irving's heroics, Luka Doncic was plagued with soreness in his right knee and felt he was let down.
“I had to help him more. I had to be there because I feel like I was letting him down. I had to help him more. “It was,” Doncic said. “He gave everything he had and was great for us throughout the series.”
April 28, 2024. Dallas, Texas, USA.Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Doncic finished with a triple-double of 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but struggled with his shooting and defense due to knee issues. His performance was noticeably less efficient than usual and affected the Mavericks' defensive efficiency, especially in key moments of the game. He averaged 29.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 8.0 assists while shooting 37.7 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from the perimeter.
The Clippers took advantage of Doncic's reduced mobility, and James Harden took advantage of these matchups to score important points in the fourth quarter, including a few key floaters in the lane. was.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd made a decision at halftime aimed at containing Paul George and Harden from the perimeter after they combined for an explosive 44 points in the first half. emphasized strategic coordination.
“Living with two in this league doesn't hurt, but three kills. And this afternoon, three killed us,” Kidd said. “We have to be better; [James] Harden is shooting two shots, which is better than he is shooting three shots. When he realizes they were hitting three shots in the first half, he has to give up something. they are talented. We gave up 2 seconds, but we fought for 2 seconds, so they decided it. They gave us a chance to get back in the game and actually take the lead. ”
Despite their efforts, the Mavericks were unable to maintain momentum in the final stages. While the Clippers regained their footing, the Mavericks stumbled, especially in rebounding and defensive transition.
“I had to make a perfect play in that fourth, but I couldn't come up with the key rebound,” Kidd said. “There was a game where Harden got an offensive rebound. We missed a 3 and Harden came up with the rebound. We've got to rebound the ball more. On the fourth, there were guys who wanted to make shots. Unfortunately, we couldn't take advantage of it.”
The Mavericks are ready to rebuild their team and adjust their strategy for Game 5. With Irving's scoring ability on full display and Doncic expected to improve his performance, Dallas will look to use their star power to regain the series lead.
The stakes continue to escalate in this intense playoff series as both teams prepare for their next showdown at Crypto.com Arena. The game, played in the early afternoon, was over quickly with just one day off, but the teams will now have two days off before their next game.
