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Luka Doncic says underdog Mavericks can 'fight' with Clippers

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Aug 20, 2020 3:56 PM ET

Second-year Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic wasn't hurting for confidence while speaking with reporters after his side's 127-114 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

"We tied the series," Doncic said of the matchup even at one game apiece between No. 7 Dallas and No. 2 Los Angeles. "We've just got three (wins) left. And I think we can fight with them.

"Any series we're going to go in, we're going to believe we can win, for sure. If you don't believe it, you're not supposed to be here. You've got to believe it."

Dallas big man Kristaps Porzingis was controversially ejected after a second technical foul in the third quarter of Monday's Game 1 showdown between the Mavs and Clippers, a decision that, as noted by ESPN's Tim MacMahon, was criticized by noteworthy basketball personalities such as LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki.

Los Angeles rallied from behind to topple Dallas 118-110 in the series opener.

Doncic scored a game-high 42 points in Monday's loss and a team-best 28 points on Wednesday.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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