Mavs dominate Clippers, take 3-2 series lead

Luka Doncic leads Mavericks to dominant win over Clippers, one win away from Western Conference semifinals. Game 6 in Dallas.

Luka Doncic put on a stellar performance, scoring 35 points and dishing out 10 assists to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a dominant 123-93 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. With this win, the Mavericks are now just one victory away from securing a spot in the Western Conference semifinals. Maxi Kleber also made a significant contribution with 15 points, helping the Mavericks take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. The next game, Game 6, is scheduled for Friday in Dallas.

Jaden Hardy and Kyrie Irving added 14 points each for the Mavericks, while Dereck Lively II and Derrick Jones Jr. chipped in with 12 points apiece. On the Clippers' side, Paul George and Ivica Zubac both scored 15 points, with George also grabbing 11 rebounds. Norman Powell, Terance Mann, and Bones Hyland each contributed double-digit points for Los Angeles, but James Harden struggled, scoring only seven points and dishing out seven assists. Harden shot a dismal 16.7 percent from the field and 1-for-7 from beyond the arc.

The Mavericks took control of the game with a 14-0 run in the third quarter, building a commanding 73-50 lead. Doncic was instrumental in this surge, scoring nine points, while the Mavericks' defense held the Clippers to just 33.3 percent shooting in the third quarter. Dallas, on the other hand, shot an impressive 63.2 percent in the same period.

Doncic sealed the victory with a crucial 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, extending the Mavericks' lead to 97-72. He finished the game shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 2 of 8 from long range. After a close first quarter, the Mavericks pulled ahead in the second quarter, heading into halftime with a 56-46 lead. Doncic had 15 points in the first half, while Kleber added 12.

George struggled in the first half, scoring just seven points, while Harden was limited to five points. The Los Angeles stars shot a combined 26.7 percent in the first half. The Clippers played without Kawhi Leonard for the third consecutive game due to right knee inflammation, and it was the first time they lost a game without him in the lineup.