Dallas Mavericks Lose to Los Angeles Clippers 118-95
The Dallas Mavericks hosted the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, just one day after naming their new CEO, Basketball Hall of Famer Rick Weltz to replace Cynt Marshall, the first Black female CEO of any NBA team. The Mavericks (17-10) had a fast start but dropped a 118-95 decision to the Clippers (16-12) at the American Airlines Center.
Klay Thompson led the Mavericks’ scorers with 22 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Spencer Dinwiddie followed up with 19 points, three rebounds, and seven assists. PJ Washington Jr. added 14 points and nine rebounds. Dereck Lively II had 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Quentin Grimes scored 11 points, five rebounds, and one assist.
Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles Clippers Recap
The Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers game was action-packed from start to finish. The Mavericks ruled out Luka Doncic, Dante Exum, Jaden Hardy, Brandon Williams, and Kyrie Irving. Their starting lineup consisted of Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington Jr., and Dereck Lively II. Dinwiddie recently accused the Brooklyn Nets of trying to ruin his NBA career in a recent podcast episode.
The first quarter saw the Mavericks and Clippers exchange leads and ties. Dereck Lively II threw down a dunk in the opening minutes. The Mavericks had a slight edge with a 30-24 lead at the end of the first. The second quarter saw an effort from both teams. Jazian Gortman executed a hand-off to Klay Thompson, who made an early basket, but the Clippers’ scoring surge kept the Mavericks at bay. The Mavericks trailed the Clippers 50-49 at halftime.Â
The third quarter saw the Clippers pick up the pace, but the Mavericks’ offense responded with scoring plays, such as Quentin Grimes’ mid-range shot. Kris Dunn’s ejection on a Flagrant 2 foul and Jazian Gortman’s Taunting Technical foul stole the show. The Mavericks fell into an 89-77 hole after three quarters. The fourth quarter saw Dinwiddie’s hard work, including a rebound-turned-basket. The Mavericks lost 118-95 in regulation.Â
Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers game featured multiple highlights, such as when the Mavericks’ starter PJ Washington appeared to mock Stephen Curry after the 143-133 win against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center on Sunday night. Washington replicated Curry’s signature “night night” celebration to his Mavericks teammates at the end of the game.
Dallas was the subject of a mock trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. If the Mavericks’ trade with the Pelicans goes through, they will receive Herb Jones and Daniel Theis in exchange for Daniel Gafford, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, a 2031 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick. The Mavericks would land the “missing piece” to win the 2025 NBA Finals.
The Clippers were part of a mock trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, who will soon have increased flexibility in potential trades, thanks to the NBA’s restrictions recently being lifted. If their trade with the Bucks takes place, they will receive Pat Connaughton in exchange for Nicolas Batum and Bones Hyland. The Bucks would gain a valuable rotation wing and an upside guard.
Final Thoughts
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving keyed the Dallas Mavericks’ record-setting 143-133 win over the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center on Sunday. Doncic finished the evening with a season-high 45 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. Irving collected 21 points and eight assists. The Mavericks and Warriors set a new NBA record for combined three-pointers made with 48, which surpassed the old record of 44.
The Mavericks and Clippers will meet again at the American Airlines Center on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Central. The two teams’ rivalry has been exciting, as the two had some great battles in recent years. Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd recently revealed Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice due to physical problems. Their status for Saturday’s game is up in the air.
