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Doncic finished with a game-high 42 points,
helping the Mavericks record the series' fifth consecutive
victory by the road team.
Game 6 in the best-of-seven is scheduled for Friday night in
Dallas.
Returning to the site of their surprising wins in Games 1 and 2
of the series, the fifth-seeded Mavericks led most of the way,
including by as many as 16 points early in the fourth quarter.
But with Doncic running out of gas, the Mavericks managed just
four points over nearly a nine-minute span of the fourth period,
allowing the fourth-seeded Clippers to climb within 95-91.
That's when Hardaway bombed in a 28-footer to extend the margin
to seven with 2:50 to go and Porzingis connected from 24 feet to
make it a 10-point game 37 seconds later.
The Clippers weren't done, however. Reggie Jackson and Marcus
Morris Sr. hit 3-pointers in a 9-0 flurry that closed the gap to
101-100 with still 39.5 seconds left. And when Terance Mann
stole a Doncic pass, Los Angeles had a chance to take the lead.
But Nicolas Batum couldn't connect on a driving layup and
subsequent tip-in attempt with just under 10 seconds remaining.
Kawhi Leonard misfired on a potential game-tying 3-pointer with
4.9 seconds left, allowing the Mavericks, who got four late free
throws from Hardaway and Josh Richardson, to hold on.
Doncic, who had 27 of his 42 points in the first half, finished
17-for-37 overall and 6-for-12 on 3-pointers. He also found time
for a game-high 14 assists and a team-high eight rebounds.
Hardaway was the only other Maverick to score in double figures
with 20 points.
Paul George had a team-high 23 points, while Leonard and Jackson
chipped in with 20 apiece in a balanced Clippers attack. George
completed a double-double with 10 rebounds.
Morris added 16 points and Batum 10 for the Clippers, while
Ivica Zubac led the hosts in rebounds with 11.
--Field Level Media
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