LOS ANGELES – Without Kawhi Leonard in Game 1 of their first round NBA playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks , the Los Angeles Clippers played with the energy they needed to jump out to the series lead. The Clippers attacked Dallas from the opening tip and proved they can advance even if their star player does not return.
Ivica Zubac bullied the Mavericks down low from the start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter. James Harden was passive early but scored 11 points in four minutes down the stretch, going 3-3 from three-point range, to take a 34-22 lead into the second quarter.
Harden finished the game with 28 points and eight assists, and Zubac totaled 20 points and 15 rebounds. Postgame, several Mavericks’ players and coaches credited Zubac’s physicality as to why the Clippers were so successful.
Playoff career-high for Big Zu ?
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 22, 2024
? 20 PTS | 15 REB pic.twitter.com/XOWEGXOeFX
“(Harden) understands that he doesn’t have to do a lot of heavy lifting when Kawhi and PG are both on the floor, but when one of those guys is out, he has to step up and be aggressive scoring the basketball. That is what he has been doing for us as of late. I thought he really set the tone early, him and Zu, and then it kind of opened everything else up for us,” said Tyronn Lue.
The Clippers won this game in the second quarter with their defense, holding the Mavericks to eight points.
To put things into context, Dallas was the seventh-best team in the NBA scoring basketball this season, averaging just under 118 points per game. They also have the league’s leading scorer, Luka Doncic, who is averaging 34 points per game this year. Holding them to eight points is nothing short of spectacular.
“I thought we did a great job in that second quarter of keeping them to 22 points, but we just couldn’t throw it in the ocean. We missed layups, free throws, and wide-open shots,” said head coach Jason Kidd.
"Ready to get ready for Game 2" -James Harden pic.twitter.com/wk1HT2XchF
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 21, 2024
The defensive game plan is clear. Defend Luka well enough to make him take difficult shots while not allowing him to be the playmaker he is capable of being. LA held the MVP finalist to six assists, his fewest in eight games. Doncic was second among all players in that category this year.
The Clippers changed their look and used different primary defenders on Doncic, including Terance Mann, Amir Coffey, and Russell Westbrook at times. They also attacked him continuously when they were on offense to wear him down.
Doncic and Kyrie Irving both scored over 30 points in the loss, but no one else was able to get going. Dallas was held to a season-low 14 assists as a team, something they must address before game two.
“It is a war out there in the playoffs, metaphorically speaking, of course. We have to enjoy it and have fun, but at the same time, bring it to these guys. We are going against some Hall of Famers, so they are not going to make it easy,” said Irving. “We just have to pay attention to what we can control.”
There is little doubt the Mavericks will bounce back from the disappointing showing. This team has too much talent and finished the regular season on a roll. Adjustments will be made, and game two is a fresh set of 48 minutes.
The Clippers’ biggest concerns coming into the series were Kawhi Leonard’s availability and containing Luka Doncic. Leonard sat out while Doncic scored 33 points, yet LA got the win relatively easily.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.