The Los Angeles Clippers will look to extend their series lead against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. The game will be available to watch on TNT starting at 10pm ET.
If you want to watch but don't have cable, you can stream the game for free through various services such as DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial. Sling TV also has promotional pricing offers for new customers.
The Clippers won Game 1 of the Western Conference playoff series, 109-97, on Sunday. James Harden had 28 points and eight assists, and Paul George added 22 points.
On the other side of the ball, stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combined for 64 points, but it wasn't enough to lead the team to victory.
For more information on the Game 2 matchup, read below.
- what: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks, NBA Playoffs 1st Round, Game 2
- when: Tuesday, April 23, 2024
- time: 10pm Eastern Time
- where: Crypto.com Arena | Los Angeles, California.
- channel: TNT
- Best live stream options: DirecTV Stream (free trial), Sling (promotional offer)
- Channel finder if you have cable: You can access channels using our online channel finder: AT&T U-Verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios.
Here's a detailed summary of Game 1 from the Associated Press:
LOS ANGELES (AP) — James Harden developed pick-and-roll chemistry with big man Ivica Zubac throughout the season. The future Hall of Famer, in his first season in Los Angeles, is coaching the longest-tenured Clippers.
That paid off in the opening game of the playoff series.
Harden scored 28 points in his playoff debut with the Clippers, Zubac had a playoff career-high 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Los Angeles defeated Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks 109-97 on Sunday.
“It was a perfect game for a big team,” said Harden, who, like Paul George, is aiming for his first NBA championship.
Game 2 will take place on Tuesday night at the Crypto.com Arena.
“We're going to play against some Hall of Famers,” Dallas' Kyrie Irving said. “We have to pay attention to what we can control because we don't even know if we're the favorites in this series.”
Coach Tyronn Lue ordered Zubac to make the first play of the game, and the Clippers got off to a dominant start.
“When I go out there, I'm going to punish them in the post,” said Zubac, who is in his sixth season with the team. “I want to be the best version of myself for this team.”
Harden made 6 of 11 3-pointers and had eight assists. George was slowed by the Mavs in the first half, but finished with 22 points. The Clippers outscored the Mavs in their own 3-point game, making 18 of 36 from long range, while Dallas made 10 of 33.
“Anytime the Zoo plays at that level, we're going to do very well,” George said.
The Clippers had five players in double digits without Kawhi Leonard. The two-time NBA Finals MVP has not played since March 31 due to inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. Russell Westbrook finished with 13 points and fellow reserve guard Norman Powell played 30 minutes.
“Obviously we want Kawhi to come back when he's ready,” George said. “The only luxury we've had is that James, myself, Russ and Norm have been through some big playoff fights.”
This is the third time in the past five years that the two teams have met in the playoffs, with the Clippers winning both previous series.
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“Their mentality was next man, and they did a very good job,” Doncic said. “You have to stay focused for 48 minutes.”
Doncic led the Mavs with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Irving had 31 points and seven rebounds, but the Mavs got little from their supporting cast.
“Luka was finding open guys, he just didn't shoot well,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “I liked how we played in the second half, so we want to build on that.”
The Mavs, trailing by 22 points, outscored the Clippers 10-2 to close the game within 102-88. Dallas was helped by Zubac's technical after Doncic's second free throw attempt and a flagrant foul for his subsequent actions. The Clippers gave up a total of four points after Doncic scored when the Mavs had the ball.
“There wasn't a lot of technical or flagrant stuff in my life,” Zubac said. “I don’t know how they got both on the same play.”
Harden made another 3-pointer and George scored four straight points to give the Clippers the win.
“Starting on the right note is very important,” George said. “I want to run my business from home.”
The Mavs regained momentum in the third, with Doncic and Irving (20 points) combining for 29 of their 34 points. However, they still led 87-64 entering the fourth. George's 3-point shot gave the Clippers a 29-point lead.
“We had to learn from that in the second half because that's how we were supposed to play the whole game,” Doncic said.
The Clippers dominated the first half and led 56-30 at halftime. This was the fewest points allowed in the first half of a playoff game for the Mavs, who were down 22-8 in the second quarter after making just two field goals.
“In a playoff game, it feels like an eternity to get eight points,” Irving said. “Starting with the start of the second quarter, they were able to be very comfortable in the first quarter and there was a carryover. We have to give them credit for making shots and doing the right things. They took advantage of our turnovers and lack of physicality.”
Harden scored 20 points in the first half, including nine straight points in the second quarter. He made his first four threes.
Doncic and Irving were a combined 5-of-19 from the floor in the first half. Doncic made all 11 of his attempts in the first quarter. Irving scored two of his six points in the second.
Terrence Mann and Amir Coffey, who started in Leonard's place, led the Clippers' defense, and Dallas made 9 of 40 field goal shots and 2 of 18 3-pointers in the first half.
