Current:Home > ScamsHarden and Zubac lead Leonard-less Clippers to 109-97 win over Doncic and Mavs in playoff opener -SecureNest Finance
Harden and Zubac lead Leonard-less Clippers to 109-97 win over Doncic and Mavs in playoff opener
View
Date:2025-04-13 23:21:57
LOS ANGELES (AP) — James Harden spent the season developing a pick-and-roll chemistry with big man Ivica Zubac. The future Hall of Famer in his first season in Los Angeles is schooling the longest-tenured Clipper.
It paid off in their playoff series opener.
Harden scored 28 points, Zubac had a playoff-career high 20 points to go with 15 rebounds, and the Clippers defeated Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks 109-97 Sunday.
“Just a perfect game for a big,” Harden said.
Coach Tyronn Lue called the game’s first play for Zubac, and the Clippers were off to a dominating start.
“When I’m out there, I’m going to try to punish them in the post,” said Zubac, in his sixth season with the team. “I want to be the best version I can be for this team.”
Harden hit 6 of 11 3-pointers and had eight assists. Paul George added 22 points. The Clippers outdid the Mavs at their own 3-point game, making 18 of 36 from long range to 10 of 33 for Dallas.
“We’re going to be very good any time Zu is playing at that level,” George said.
The Clippers had five players in double figures without Kawhi Leonard. The two-time NBA Finals MVP hasn’t played since March 31 because of inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. Russell Westbrook finished with 13 points and fellow reserve guard Norman Powell played 30 minutes.
“We obviously want Kawhi back when he’s ready,” George said. “The luxury we have is just experience with James, myself, Russ, Norm’s been in big playoff battles.”
The teams were meeting in the playoffs for the third time in five years, with the Clippers having won both previous series.
Doncic led the Mavs with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Kyrie Irving had 31 points and seven rebounds, but the Mavs got little from their supporting cast.
“Luka was finding the open guy. We just didn’t shoot well,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “I like the way we played in the second half and we got to build on that.”
Trailing by 22, the Mavs outscored the Clippers 10-2 to close within 102-88. Dallas was helped by a technical on Zubac and a flagrant-1 foul for his subsequent actions after a second free throw attempt by Doncic. In all, it cost the Clippers four points after Doncic scored when the Mavs retained possession.
“I didn’t have a lot of technicals and flagrants in my life,” Zubac said. “I don’t know how I got both on the same play.”
Harden hit another 3-pointer, George scored four in a row and the Clippers closed out the win.
“Very important to start off on the right note,” George said. “You want to take care of business at home.”
The Mavs revived themselves in the third, when Doncic and Irving (20 points) combined for 29 of their 34 points. But they still trailed 87-64 going into the fourth. George’s 3-pointer put the Clippers ahead by 29, their largest lead.
The Clippers dominated the first half, leading 56-30 at the break. It was the fewest points they’ve allowed in either half of a playoff game and a first-half playoff low for the Mavs, who were outscored 22-8 in the second quarter when they made just two field goals.
Harden scored 20 points in the half, including nine in a row in the second quarter. He made his first four 3s.
Doncic and Irving were a combined 5 of 19 from the floor in the half. Doncic had all of his 11 in the first quarter; Irving had two of his six points in the second.
Terance Mann and Amir Coffey, who started in place of Leonard, led a Clippers defense that held Dallas to 9 of 40 field-goal shooting and 2 of 18 from 3-point range in the half.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
veryGood! (7)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
Recommendation
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
Intellectuals vs. The Internet
Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change