NBA: Luka Doncic’s 44 Points Set LA Clippers Ablaze As Dallas Mavericks Clinch Dominant 144-126 Win – News18

Luka Doncic scored 44 factors and the Dallas Mavericks routed the Los Angeles Clippers 144-126 on Friday night time in an NBA In-Season Tournament recreation, the Clippers’ third straight loss since James Harden joined the lineup.

Doncic was 17 of 21 from the sector, going 6 of 9 from 3-level vary. Kyrie Irving added 27 factors, hitting 5 of 8 3-pointers, to assist Dallas enhance to 1-1 within the event after a gap loss at Denver.

“I keep saying, it’s not just us two,” Doncic stated about himself and Irving. “We get stops. Everybody contributes. So, it’s not just two of us. Everybody helps us.”

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The Mavericks took management with a 47-18 second interval and a 33-4 run within the first half that included 17 consecutive factors, eight to complete the primary quarter and 9 to start the second quarter. Their largest lead was 32 factors early within the third interval. They reached 100 factors with 4 1/2 minutes within the third and completed with their highest level whole of the season.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers, who’ve dropped 4 straight total, with 26 factors of their event opener. Harden, who joined the crew final week following a Nov. 1 commerce from Philadelphia, had 14 factors — all within the first quarter. Russell Westbrook additionally had 14.

“First quarter, felt really good on both ends of the ball,” Harden stated. “From there, it just went downhill. Trying to find a balance of not trying to step on anyone’s toes but just trying to, like, still be aggressive myself.”

Harden pressured that it’s nonetheless early in his transition to the Clippers and he’s nonetheless making an attempt to determine “everything.”

“I didn’t have a training camp. I didn’t have a preseason,” Harden stated. “Everything is still moving fast speed for me. Need about a 10-game window, then kind of see where I am.”

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue stated a key to Harden’s success will contain retaining a giant man on the ground with him. Los Angeles at present makes use of extra smaller lineups than normal with backup heart Mason Plumlee misplaced for a interval of months with an MCL sprain.

“Because of the way he runs pick and rolls,” Lue stated. “He can get downhill and make every play.”

Los Angeles’ Paul George was held to eight factors. Leonard, Westbrook, Harden and George didn’t play within the fourth interval.

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The Clippers scored the primary eight factors and led 31-19 earlier than the Mavericks took over. Dallas led 77-51 on the half, 10 factors greater than its earlier highest-scoring first half.

The Mavericks got here off their first dwelling lack of the season, 127-116 to Toronto on Wednesday.

“I think it was a great bounce-back game,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd stated. “Luka set the tone, Kai, those two set the tone tonight, and the guys followed.”

The recreation wasn’t performed on the Mavericks’ particular court docket for the event due to what the NBA referred to as a “manufacturing issue” with the court docket.

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)