Sunday at 3:30 pm EST, the Los Angeles Clippers(1-0) faced off against the Dallas Mavericks(0-1) in their first game of the series. LA was able to take a very early lead and shut down Dallas immediately. There is no question that LA is the better team in this series. They proved to the league that they would cause problems for the other teams in the West.
On the other hand, it seems like Dallas is going to fall short when it matters most again. This team always seems to crumble in the most important moments as their playoff record has not been stellar.
The Beard Able to Boost Up Los Angeles Clippers
James Harden has not been averaging as much as he usually does this year. However, he stepped up in game one and proved why the Mavericks should be very worried about him. He gave the LA Clippers 28 points, eight assists, and two rebounds. This is a big deal for the team, as Kawhi Leonard is injured right now.
If Harden can continue to put these numbers up every game, Dallas won’t have a chance to move on from round one. He played with another level of energy against them and was quick to shoot and moved the ball well. If Leonard can’t play the next game, the Clippers shouldn’t be worried as Harden is making up for the loss.
This effort from the Beard was not the only key to the victory. Paul George put up a healthy 22 points. Also, Ivica Zubac snagged 20 points and 15 boards. This trio of starters was unstoppable. Even without Leonard, they have made their team impossible to guard and hard to score against.
Trouble Brewing for Dallas
The Mavericks have struggled in the playoffs. In the past four years, they’ve missed the playoffs, lost in round one, and made it to the Conference Finals once. In the Conference Final’s run, they only won a single game. Last season, the excuse could be that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were learning how to play together. However, that won’t work this year.
In the game today, Luka Doncic had 33 points, six assists, and 13 rebounds. Also, Kyrie Irving gave the team 31 points, four assists, and seven rebounds. Even with this huge effort, they couldn’t grab a win. The problem is the rest of the Mavericks team is terrible.
Looking at the game stats, only one other player had more than ten points. This was P.J. Washington, who had eleven. In the playoffs, this can’t happen. The rest of the starters and bench played like they never touched a basketball before. If this continues, the Clippers will rip them apart and possibly even sweep.
What to Expect in Game Two from the Clippers
James Harden should look to continue his hot streak. If he can score consistently, the Clippers will remain a threat. If he falls flat, they’ll lose a good chunk of momentum. Also, there is a chance LA gets Leonard back for the next game.
Viewers should also expect to see an angry Dallas Mavericks team. They have to come out swinging. Gaining a lead in the first half will be needed in order to grab the win. They cannot allow the Clippers to get a double-digit lead on them in the first quarter, or they can kiss their finals hopes goodbye.
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Elizabeth is an avid watcher of all things sports. However, the Boston sports teams will always be her number one. Follow her on X @edellapiana1 .
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