James Harden scored 28 points and Ivica Zubac set his playoff career high with 20 while adding 15 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers made a statement in Game 1 of a first-round Western Conference series with a 109-97 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
The fourth-seeded Clippers were playing without star Kawhi Leonard because of knee inflammation, but they had plenty to get past the Mavericks, getting 22 points from Paul George and 13 apiece from Terance Mann and Russell Westbrook. Mr. Mann had nine rebounds while Harden had eight assists.
Los Angeles’ high-level defense was present from the start, holding Dallas to just eight points in the second quarter and 30 in the first half. The Clippers led by as many as 29 points in the third quarter.
Luka Doncic scored 33 points to go along with 13 rebounds and Kyrie Irving added 31 points for the Mavericks. Dallas had an impressive end to the regular season, as it won 16 of 18 games before using mainly reserves over the final two games, both defeats, after its playoff seed was determined. — Reuters