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 had 28 points, Zubac had a playoff career-high 20 points and 15 rebounds, and the Clippers defeated Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks 109-97 on Sunday.
“It's just a perfect game for a big team,” Harden said.
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. Paul George added 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 have is that James, myself, Russ and Norm have been through some big playoff games.”
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.
Doncic led the Mavs with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Kyrie Irving had 31 points and seven rebounds, but the Mavs got little from their support staff.
Bucks beat Pacers with Lillard's 35 points in the first half
Damian Lillard scored all 35 of his points before halftime and the Milwaukee Bucks withstood Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence to beat the Indiana Pacers 109-94 in the Eastern Conference playoff opener on Sunday.
The Bucks needed Lillard to step up without Antetokounmpo, but Antetokounmpo is dealing with a strained left calf that caused him to miss Milwaukee's final three games of the regular season, leaving his return date uncertain. .
With Antetokounmpo watching from the bench, Lillard led the Bucks in scoring in both halves of the playoffs.
Pascal Siakam had 36 points and 13 rebounds for the Pacers, who averaged a league-high 123.3 points per game despite never scoring below 99 points in the regular season. The Pacers made 8 of 39 3-point shots.
Indiana is making the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and is looking to make it past the opening round for the first time since 2014.
For the Bucks, Khris Middleton had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Bobby Portis had 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Game 2 will be played Tuesday in Milwaukee.
Top-seeded Thunder defeat Pelicans 94-92 in Game 1
On Sunday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points, including the go-ahead goal in the final minute, and the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated visiting New York City in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoff series. They defeated the Orleans Pelicans 94-92. .
New Orleans' CJ McCollum missed an off-balance 3-pointer in the final minute, but the Thunder held on and won their first home playoff game since 2019.
Jaylen Williams scored 19 points and Chet Holmgren added 15 points, 11 rebounds and five rebounds for the Thunder, who play Game 2 on Wednesday night.
For the Pelicans, Trey Murphy III scored 21 points and McCollum added 20 points. Zion Williamson, New Orleans' leading scorer in the regular season, was out with a strained left hamstring.
Tatum's triple-double gives Celtics a 3-second lead over the Heat.
Jayson Tatum recorded his first career playoff triple-double on Sunday with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 114-94 victory over the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoff series. It was the opening day.
Derrick White had 20 points and four assists for Boston, with six players scoring in double figures.
Last season, Miami ruined the Celtics' NBA Finals dreams, taking a 3-0 lead in the Conference Finals and defeating the Celtics in Game 7 in Boston.
But on Sunday, Boston capitalized on the energy of the TD Garden crowd, sank 22 3-pointers and outscored the Heat 31-14 in the third quarter. The Celtics' lead grew to 34 points in the fourth. Miami got as close as 14 points on a late run, but Boston was able to get the shutout.
Including the regular season, Boston is 38-4 at home and has won the last four meetings against the Heat.
Bam Adebayo scored 24 points for Miami, which played without star Jimmy Butler for the second straight game after injuring his right knee during the play-in round. Terry Rozier also remained sidelined with a neck injury. Delon Wright added 17 points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. finished with 16 points.
Game 2 will be played in Boston on Wednesday.
