Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks are returning home with a 2-0 series lead after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 127-121 on Tuesday night at Staples Center.
Doncic finished with 39 points, seven assists and seven rebounds as the Clippers had nothing defensively to slow down the 22-year-old guard. The Clippers wasted 30 first-half points from Kawhi Leonard, who cooled off drastically in the second half and finished with 41.
The Clippers led 73-71 at the half but the Mavericks took control in the third quarter and eventually held a 13-point lead with 7:20 left in the game. The Clippers would rally to cut the lead within four before running out of gas down the stretch. Tim Hardaway Jr. delivered the dagger with 1:03 left in the fourth.
The Clippers’ playoff struggles have been well documented over recent years, but losing the first two games at home in the first round of the playoffs might be peak Clippers.
The series heads to Dallas as Game 3 is slated for Friday night at 9:30 p.m. ET.
