The NBA Playoffs are back.
In a busy opening weekend, the Dallas Mavericks will tip off Game 1 against the Los Angeles Clippers inside Crypto.com Arena on Sunday afternoon at approximately 2:40 p.m.
Watch Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and more as they chase NBA titles below, with live updates from our writers and photographers.
game updates
3rd Q (Clippers 61, Mavericks 39; 9:05 remaining): In Dallas, Daniel Gafford returned to the game after being ejected in the second quarter.
2nd Q (Clippers 56, Mavericks 30): Los Angeles went on a quick 6-0 run to start the second quarter, but the Mavericks trailed 40-22 and Dallas forced another timeout.
Daniel Gafford left the floor minutes later after being knocked to the ground in a collision with Paul George. With Dallas trailing 41-26, he limped back to the locker room with his trainers. The Clippers went on an 11-0 run while Gafford was out, but the Mavericks' horrible shooting woes continued. Dallas shot 22.5 percent from the field (9-40) and 11.1 percent from 3-point range (2-18).
After a first half in which everything that could go wrong went wrong, Dallas went into the locker room down by 26 points.
First quarter (Clippers 34, Mavericks 22): It took less than three and a half minutes for Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford to pick up his second personal foul, leading to an early appearance for rookie Derek Lively II. Ivica Zubac dominated in the paint with six early points. Paul George's 3-pointer gave Dallas a 16-9 lead, but a timeout was called with 7:08 left in the quarter.
Zubac finished the opening game with 10 points, while Luka Doncic and James Harden were the leading scorers with 11 points each.
Pre-match update
– Dallas starting pitchers: Doncic, Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford.
– Tim Hardaway Jr. was ruled out for Game 1 due to illness, but head coach Jason Kidd said before the game that he would be active.
– Los Angeles manager Ty Lue announced that Clippers star Kawhi Leonard (knee) will be inactive Sunday.
– Amir Coffey will be in Lue's starting lineup in place of Leonard, along with James Harden, Terrence Mann, Paul George, and Ivica Zubac.
pre-game reading
– The latest Mavericks vs. Clippers playoff showdown brings a fresh perspective with plenty of new faces
– 'Prepare for war': Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving gives advice to playoff rookies
– Mavericks vs. Clippers Roundtable: Can Dallas beat a familiar foe to start their NBA playoff run?
– How to watch Mavericks vs. Clippers in the NBA playoffs: streaming information, watch parties, and more
– Daniel Gafford is at the center of the Dallas Mavericks' evolution into a contender in the West
Click here for more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News.
