Clippers beat Dallas 118-95 as Mavericks' star guards Doncic and Irving sit due to injury
Los Angeles Clippers' Nicolas Batum (33), Dallas Mavericks' P.J. Washington, center, and Kevin Porter Jr. (77) sprint after a loose ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez
DALLAS — Norman Powell scored 29 points, James Harden added 24 and Ivica Zubac had 21 points and 15 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers beat Dallas 118-95 on Thursday night in the Mavericks’ first game this season playing without star guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Doncic sat out with a left heel contusion, Irving with right shoulder soreness, in the first of a two-game series against Los Angeles that will conclude Saturday night.
First-year Maverick Klay Thompson scored 22 points, his first game leading the team in scoring. Spencer Didwiddie added 19 making his first start of the season.
The Clippers took a 50-49 lead into the second half and outscored the Mavericks 39-28 in the third period, hitting 69.6% (16 for 23) of their field-goal attempts while Dallas shot 40% (8 of 20) in the quarter.
Clippers guard Kris Dunn was ejected for committing a flagrant 2 foul against Jazian Gortman late in the third period.
Takeaways
Clippers: Los Angeles led in bench scoring 33-16. Harden was 10 for 10 from the line. Powell played the entire second period, scoring 10 of his team-best 12 first-half points. Zubac didn’t have a rebound during the game’s first 15 minutes.
Mavericks: Dallas shot 7 for 30 on 3-pointers for season lows in makes and percentage (23.3%). They’re 5-2 without Doncic, 1-2 without Irving.
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks' Olivier-Maxence Prosper, left, and P.J. Washington (25) defend in the first half of an NBA basketkbal lgame in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Credit: AP/Tony Gutierrez
Key moment
After P.J. Washington’s runner pulled Dallas within 73-68 with five minutes left in the third quarter, Zubac’s stuff began a 12-1 run, during which the Mavericks missed all four field-goal attempts.
Key stat
The Mavericks, missing a combined 52.8 points from Doncic and Irving, scored a season low and suffered their most lopsided loss of the season.
Up next
The teams meet again Saturday. The teams’ other two meetings will be a back-to-back at Los Angeles on April 4-5.
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