The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers will clash once again in the playoffs. The two teams are regular foes in postseason basketball, but things will be a little different for both teams this time around.
The Mavericks have point guard Kyrie Irving along with superstar Luka Doncic. Still, despite having a rookie team, the Mavericks lost Game 1 on the road. They lost 109-97, although the final score suggested the game was much closer than it actually was.
By halftime, the Clippers led the Mavericks 56-30. Dallas was completely lacking in offense, scoring eight points in the second quarter and losing the game.
But both Irving and Doncic were great in the second half, and that might have been the only positive of the game. Iriv had 31 points on 10-of-18 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes. Doncic had 33 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in 42 minutes.
After the game, Irving hinted that the second half would be a positive building block for the Mavericks heading into Game 2, also in Los Angeles.
“I think we really challenged them in the second half,” Irving said after the loss. “I know we outplayed them in the second half. We got stopped. We saw some trends from the players on their team, but they were really going in the opposite direction. It was really challenging us to keep those different looks.”
Arvind and the Mavericks defeated the Clippers 67-53 in the second half. If they can start Conest the way they finished Game 1, the Mavericks have a solid chance to tie the series next time. Thankfully for Dallas, the best-of-seven series can fluctuate wildly from game to game.
“Metaphorically speaking, it's war. So we have to have fun and have fun, but we have to bring it.”
To these people. We’re playing against Hall of Fame players.I don't even know if we are
We have to pay attention to what we can control because it’s a favorite of this series,” Irving continues.
Jason Kidd and the rest of the coaching staff will be back to square one for their next matchup, but it's hard to imagine the Mavericks' offense looking as flat as it did in Sunday's Game 2. If only Irving and Doncic could start sooner. The end result will look much different if you start next time.
