The Dallas Mavericks secured a thrilling 114-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 of their first-round NBA playoff series, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving spearheaded the charge, with Doncic contributing 28 points and 13 assists and Irving scoring 28 of his 30 points in the second half.
Irving praised the team’s chemistry, saying, “We’re pushing each other off the court to be better, and then when we get on the court, it’s just like synchronicity. It feels good.”
Doncic, despite struggling with his shot due to a knee injury, played a crucial role in the Mavericks’ victory. He joked about his performance, saying, “Terrible, man. I need some rest,” before heading into a three-day break.
Irving excelled on both ends of the court, scoring efficiently and playing strong defense. Doncic lauded Irving’s performance, saying, “I would say unbelievable. So it’s even more special, but just to have the guy like that on your team, it’s a pleasure. Just working with him, just playing with him, it’s a pleasure no matter what. He’s always positive energy, always. Not even one second of negative energy, which helps a lot, helps everybody, and we’re so happy to have him.”
The Clippers’ Paul George and James Harden struggled to find their rhythm, with George scoring 18 points and Harden adding 16 points but shooting just 5-of-16 from the field. Harden reflected on the loss, saying, “A lot of emotions and things going through my mind right now.”
The Mavericks’ bench played a key role in the win, with P.J. Washington scoring 14 points and Daniel Gafford adding 13 points. Coach Jason Kidd praised the team’s trade-deadline acquisitions, saying, “They’re very important when you look at the culture of our team. Our defense changed when they got here. They’re not going to complain. You don’t have to run a play for them.”
The game was tied at halftime, but the Mavericks took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 35-20. Irving scored 13 points in the quarter, and the Mavericks pushed their lead to 15 points. George acknowledged Irving’s dominance, saying, “You give someone like Kai those looks, that basket gets bigger and bigger. I thought that was really all he needed to see. Everything else was a playground for him.”
The Clippers attempted a late comeback, but Irving’s four-point play with 3:15 remaining sealed the win. Irving described the play, saying, “I was on the floor looking, kind of squinting and seeing if it went in. Just seeing my teammates’ reactions, that was the best part of it. We knew that was kind of like the dagger in the series.”
Irving also excelled on defense, with the Clippers shooting just 2-18 from the floor with Irving as the primary defender in Game 6. He discussed his defensive approach, saying, “I just got to get there to that point to be able to be ready to have the other team submit. One of the hardest things to do as a competitor is to have your opponent concede or submit. And I do want to take this time to give respectful shoutout and also show my respect to the Clippers organization and the players. It’s always fun, and they got me better.”
The Mavericks’ win marks their first series victory over the Clippers in three tries over the past five seasons. They will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, starting Tuesday night.
Washington praised Irving’s performance, saying, “It was like 2K. He had a Mamba takeover. He was just doing what he does. He’s special, and I’m just glad to be on his team.”
The Clippers’ loss marks their second consecutive first-round exit, despite the addition of James Harden at the trade deadline. The team will look to regroup and rebuild in the offseason, with a focus on improving their scoring punch and defensive consistency.
Coach Tyronn Lue reflected on the loss, saying, “It caught up with us, and you saw that in the third quarter and into the fourth. We just ran out of gas.”
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