May 2, (THEWILL) – Luka Doncic delivered a masterclass performance, pouring in 35 points as the Dallas Mavericks thrashed the Los Angeles Clippers 123-93 on the road to seize a 3-2 series lead.
The lopsided victory marked the Clippers’ heaviest-ever defeat in NBA playoff history, leaving them reeling and facing elimination in Game 6 back in Texas on Friday.
The Mavericks seized control of the contest towards the end of the first half, outscoring the Clippers 33-23 in the third quarter to open up a 20-point advantage. Dallas showed no mercy in the fourth, extending their lead to a staggering 32 points at one stage, as they mercilessly piled on the misery against their stunned opponents.
Doncic’s masterful 35-point display was complemented by 10 assists and seven rebounds, while Maxi Kleber chipped in with 15 points off the bench. Kyrie Irving had a relatively quiet night, contributing 14 points. Doncic, however, remained focused on the task at hand, acknowledging that the job was not yet done and urging his team to prepare for the crucial Game 6.
The Clippers were left to rue a humiliating loss that saw their offence misfire, converting just nine of 35 attempted three-pointers and a paltry 33 of 87 field goals overall. Paul George and Ivica Zubac led the scoring with a meagre 15 points each, while James Harden and Russell Westbrook managed just seven and six points, respectively, off the bench.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
