Luka Doncic had 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and the Dallas Mavericks earned a 127-114 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday near Orlando to even their opening-round Western Conference playoff series at one win apiece.
Kristaps Porzingis added 23 points and seven rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 17 points, and Trey Burke finished with 16 points as the Mavericks leveled the best-of-seven series.
Seth Curry chipped in 15 points and Boban Marjanovic, a former Clipper, hit 6 of 8 shots on his way to 13 points. Marjanovic added nine rebounds.
Kawhi Leonard had 35 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. Lou Williams contributed 23 points, while Paul George, who was limited by foul trouble, had 14 points and 10 boards. Marcus Morris Sr. had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Game 3 is Friday.
The Clippers trailed by 18 points early in the fourth quarter. They sliced the lead to 10 late in the game but got no closer.
Doncic picked up his fifth foul with 11:37 left and sat for more than seven minutes, but the Mavericks didn't miss a beat. They boosted their lead to 108-90 after a bucket by Burke at 8:53 before hanging on for the win.
After trailing by eight in the third, Montrezl Harrell's basket helped the Clippers close the gap to 85-83 with 2:28 left in the third. But a 13-2 surge to end the quarter after a layup by Burke put the Mavericks up 98-85.
The Mavericks bolted to a 15-2 advantage to open the game. However, by the end of the quarter, Los Angeles cut the deficit to 29-25.
But the Mavericks increased the margin to 44-27 after Doncic found Marjanovic for a dunk with 7:46 remaining in the second.
The Clippers rallied again. Two free throws by Williams capped a 21-8 run and pulled them within 52-48 with 3:08 left in the quarter.
Dallas led 61-56 at the break.
Clippers guard Patrick Beverley (strained calf) missed the contest.
--Field Level Media
Dallas | L.A. Clippers | |
Luka Doncic 28 | Scoring | Kawhi Leonard 35 |
Luka Doncic 7 | Assists | Lou Williams 7 |
Maxi Kleber 10 | Rebounds | Paul George 10 |
Luka Doncic 8 | Free Throws Made | Kawhi Leonard 13 |
Trey Burke 2 | Steals | Marcus Morris Sr. 2 |
Trey Burke 1 | Blocks | Paul George 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Dallas | 127 | 50.0 | 13-29 | 26-37 | 25 | 49 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
L.A. Clippers | 114 | 44.0 | 10-34 | 30-39 | 16 | 47 | 2 | 4 | 15 |