DALLAS — Luka Doncic injured his knee in the first quarter, but the Dallas Mavericks still managed to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 101-90 and take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA playoffs.
Doncic was clearly in pain after the injury, but remained optimistic about his chances of continuing in the series.
“It's not good. I felt it before I hit my knee. It's pretty stiff right now, but we'll know more tomorrow,” Doncic said. “You know what? I'm just going to go for it.”
April 26, 2024. Dallas, Texas, USA.Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts to a 3-pointer
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Doncic had 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Kyrie Irving also stepped up, scoring 21 points and dishing out six assists, helping the Mavericks overcome their shooting struggles from the perimeter as they went just 9-34 (26.5%) as a unit.
“I think the defense dictated the offense,” Doncic said. “I don't think we played great offensively, especially, but we won the game. That's all that matters.”
Despite the injury, Doncic briefly returned to the game before the end of the first quarter, but was not at his best. The Mavericks used a strong second quarter to build an unassailable lead.
The Mavericks dominated inside, outscoring the Clippers 52-38 in the paint, securing 22 fast-break points. The team's depth shined with key contributions from P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr., as well as Daniel Gafford, who was sidelined due to back spasms.
“We've been talking about energy, positive energy, protecting each other, trusting each other. You can see the chemistry on both sides is at a high level,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. . That's something we've always talked about, making sure we don't make terrible mistakes and put our teammates and the team in bad situations. I thought they did a good job and did a good job of protecting each other. ”
The Clippers struggled with turnovers and shooting efficiency. James Harden and Norman Powell each scored 21 points, but turnovers and poor shooting from the perimeter plagued their performances.
Doncic's health and ability to contribute will continue to be a focus as the series progresses, with more information expected after further medical evaluation. The Mavericks expect Doncic to play a key role and hope to continue making the playoffs.
