Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Luka Doncic Leads Mavs To Historic Playoff Win Over Clippers Despite Injury

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Jake Rogers | Last updated 5/2/24

Battling a sprained right knee and a relentless cold, Luka Doncic defied physical limitations to steer the Dallas Mavericks towards a potential second-round berth of the NBA playoffs with a decisive 123-93 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5.

Despite his ailments, Doncic amassed 35 points, 20 of which he delivered in a dominant second half. He added 10 assists and seven rebounds on the night.

The Mavericks, fueled also by Maxi Kleber‘s five three-pointers and Kyrie Irving‘s 14 points, tightened their defense to inflict the Clippers with their most severe playoff loss in history. Now leading the first-round series 3-2, Dallas is just one victory shy of their first series win since 2022 and only their third since their 2011 NBA championship run.

Reflecting on the victory, Doncic remarked, “I think it was a very big game. We win, and now we’ve got to win one out of two. We’ve got to go back to Dallas and play the same way.” The next face-off is scheduled for Friday night in Dallas, with a potential Game 7 slated for Sunday back in Los Angeles if needed.

Despite his compromised knee and evident illness symptoms, Doncic’s performance peaked as the evening progressed. He contributed 14 pivotal points in the third quarter alone, propelling Dallas to an 89-69 lead entering the final quarter, a lead the Clippers failed to challenge.

Describing his health challenges, Doncic shared, “It’s tough,” and acknowledged his knee was “not good.” Yet, the playoff atmosphere sparked his adrenaline, pushing him to persevere. “Once you get started, you want to do everything you can to help your team win. I just wanted to keep going.”

The Clippers, missing their superstar Kawhi Leonard due to right knee inflammation, struggled to fill the void. Leonard’s absence was deeply felt as the team played without him for the third time this series.

Paul George and Ivica Zubac each scored 15 points, but it wasn’t enough to combat the Mavericks’ robust defense. George himself faltered, particularly from beyond the arc, underscoring a general lack of offensive assertiveness that has plagued him throughout the series.

Coach Tyronn Lue of the Clippers expressed his disappointment post-game, stating, “We just didn’t play well all around. Defensively, offensively, we just didn’t play a good game. That’s OK. Turn the page.”

As both teams rested their starters in the latter part of the fourth quarter, the focus now shifts to Dallas, where the Mavericks will attempt to close out the series at home, hopeful of not repeating past setbacks against the Clippers in crucial games.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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