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Kawhi Leonard
compiled 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Los
Angeles Clippers used a balanced attack to defeat the host
Dallas Mavericks 109-99 on Monday.
With Patrick Beverley (knee) and Serge Ibaka (back) out, the
Clippers tried a new look in their second game in two nights.
Nicolas Batum came off the bench for the first time this season
and scored 12 points as Los Angeles won for just the second time
in the past six games.
Ivica Zubac (15 points, 11 rebounds) made his second start of
the season for the Clippers while Marcus Morris Sr. (14 points)
started for the third time. Paul George had 15 points for Los
Angeles while Lou Williams had 14 and Reggie Jackson added 12.
The victory avenged the worst loss in Clippers franchise
history, a 51-point setback to the Mavericks on Dec. 27 in the
teams' third game of the season. Leonard missed that game due to
a facial injury.
Luka Doncic produced 25 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds for
the Mavericks while Kristaps Porzingis added 22 points and seven
rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 21 points off the Dallas bench.
One night after an uninspired effort at New Orleans, where the
Clippers fell 135-115, they flashed much more energy in taking a
31-23 first-quarter lead while shooting 59.1 percent from the
field.
The Mavericks closed the gap in the second quarter, leading by
one point three times, but the Clippers were on top 55-50 at the
break after shooting 54.8 percent. The Mavericks shot 52.5
percent in the opening half.
The Clippers started fast in the fourth quarter, pushing their
lead to 90-78 on a Zubac dunk with 11:20 remaining.
The Mavericks pulled within 103-99 on a 3-pointer from Hardaway
with 3:15 remaining, but Leonard converted a three-point play
with 2:08 remaining to push Los Angeles' advantage to 106-99.
George hit a 3-pointer with the shot clock running out to give
the Clippers a 109-99 advantage with 26.3 seconds remaining.
The Mavericks played without James Johnson (personal) and Dwight
Powell (non-COVID illness).
--Field Level Media
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