The LA Clippers were able to restore home court advantage, again beating the Mavericks on the road in Dallas. The Clippers dominated from start to finish, and now have some momentum going into Game 5 on Wednesday. Before we get to the full recap of the Clippers’ Game 4 win over the Mavericks, however, here are a few updates that came in between our preview and tip:

• Nic Batum started in place of Ivica Zubac.
• Luka Dončić (Cervical Strain) and Maxi Kleber (Achilles) went from questionable and probable respectively to available.

Clippers Mavericks Game 4 Summary

After taking the first punch in the first three games, the Clippers landed the opning blow of Game 4. They would end the first quarter with a nine point lead, but they led by as much as 12. The Clippers would then go on to win the second quarter by seven, giving them a 16 point lead at half. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George – once again – carried the offensive load, with 17 and 18 first half points respectively. Reggie Jackson and Nic Batum each added seven points in the first 24 minutes.

The Mavericks were still cold to start the game, but they did get a spark from a Rick Carlisle adjustment: bringing in Boban Marjanovic early to get the Clippers off balance and disrupt Ty Lue’s rotations. And, it worked. Boban leaked out for a transition layup and eventually forced the Clippers to abandon small-ball and bring in Zubac earlier than planned. At half time, he had the best +/- for the Mavs.

The rest of the Mavericks, however, were not as effective in the first half. First, Luka, whose shoulder/neck injury was apparent throughout the game, had an efficient 15 points (7/15 shooting) but was not as aggressive as we have seen him so far this series. Moreover, except for Kristaps Porzingis, who started off hot and finished the first half with 12 points, the Clippers held all of the other Mavericks to five or fewer first half points. The Clippers defense certainly looked tighter and more confident, but the Mavericks also missed a bunch of shots that they were making in the first two games.

In the third quarter (historically a terrible quarter for this franchise), the Clippers came out very strong, scoring eight unanswered points in the first three minutes. And those eight points were basically the difference between the two teams in the third, as the Clippers finished with 21 points and held the Mavs to just 15. Marcus Morris, Sr. also hit two nice shots, grabbed three rebounds, and had an assist in the third quarter. The rebounding was especially key, and the Clippers overall were stronger on the boards tonight. Although the Mavericks grabbed 10 offensive rebounds, the Clippers had nine of their own and even out-rebounded the Mavs overall, 53-41.

The fourth quarter was largely uneventful, even though Clips Nation was pretty tense until the final horn blew.

But, in the end, the Clippers were able to hold the Mavericks off and even got to let the bench get some burn in the final four minutes of the game.

Notes

What’s up with Luka Dončić?: After the game, Luka said he was “100%” but that clearly was not the case. He finished the game with 19 points on 9/24 shooting and showed flashes of the defense-carving he has proved capable of in the first three games of the series. He was 1/7 from three, though, as well as 0/5 from the free throw line. Going forward, regardless of what Luka’s injury status is, the Clippers need to continue studying what has worked defensively to contain him in these last two games because he is still the engine of their offense. I personally thought Batum did a pretty good job on him tonight, without looking back at the film.

What to do with Ivica Zubac: I was honored to learn that Ty Lue is an avid 213Hoops reader when I saw that he was starting Batum and trying to match Zubac with Luka’s rest. But Zubac had a tough night nonetheless: he was 2/5 from the field and had just seven rebounds in 17 minutes before fouling out. Hopefully, Ty Lue can continue tinkering with the rotations and gameplan to maximize Zubac in a way that is not simply playing him less. With the Mavericks’ size, they have the potential to devastate the Clippers’ small-ball lineup.

The Mavericks Shooting: The Mavs were 34.8% from the field and 16.7% from three tonight. Sure, the Clippers’ defense has been better over the last two games, but they are also simply missing shots they were making earlier in the series. The Clippers should assume the Mavs will get back to their average in Game 5 and plan accordingly.

That about does it for this recap of the Clippers’ Game 4 win over the Mavericks. Celebrate in the comments below!

Clippers vs. Mavericks Game 4 Recap: Clips Regain Home Court Advantage
Kenneth Armstrong

In Game 3, the Clippers took a big punch and fought their way back, finishing strong and bringing the series to 2-1. Tonight, the Clippers have a chance to even the series and restore home court advantage. While Game 3 was certainly a must-win, there is no time to slow down. Read on for a full preview of the Clippers’ Game 4 against the Mavericks.

Game Information

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas

When: 6:30pm PT

How to Watch: TNT, Bally Sports SoCal

How to Listen: AM 570 LA Sports

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac

Mavericks: Luka Dončić – Tim Hardaway Jr. – Dorian Finney-Smith – Kristaps Porziņģis – Maxi Kleber

Injuries

Clippers: Serge Ibaka (Back Spasms) – Questionable

Mavericks: JJ Redick (Achilles) – Out; Luka Dončić (Cervical Strain) – Questionable; Maxi Kleber (Achilles) – Probable

The Big Picture

As Ty Lue said during his media availability on Saturday, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have been carrying the load for this Clippers team, especially in Game 3. They combined for 65 points on 24/35 shooting, both playing over 41 minutes. Before George got into foul trouble, he was leading the Clippers’ attack with some incredible shot making. Then, as the game went on, Kawhi became the focal point of the offense, including running several Kawhi-Rondo pick-and-rolls, which led to open looks.

Tonight, the Clippers will need similar production from their two stars. What was most encouraging from Game 3, however, was the reappearance of Marcus Morris, Sr.’s shooting. He finished the game with 15 points on 6/9 shooting (3/5 from three) before fouling out. He was joined by Reggie Jackson, who started and added 16 points on 6/12 shooting. If the Clippers can count on this level of efficiency from their third and fourth scorers, they have a chance to match the Mavericks’ hot supporting cast (who cooled off a little in Game 3, thankfully).

A less-obvious positive development (if you’re only looking at the box score) was the improved rotation. With Serge Ibaka at home focusing on his back injury, Ty Lue continued to go small in Game 3 and gave Terance Mann almost 20 minutes off the bench. Although Mann was only 1/3 from the field, he grabbed six boards and added two assists. But, as the Clippers and Clips Nation has come to expect, his greatest contribution was his energy and pace. Moreover, Lue leaned more heavily on Rondo, who played 26 minutes and led the team in assists with eight. This meant Patrick Beverley played a much smaller role in Game 3, but it seemed to be for the best, as he is still getting in rhythm after missing significant time in the second half of the season.

Defensively, the Clippers still had trouble containing Luka, who finished the game with 44 points on 15/28 shooting. He started the game by demolishing the Clippers’ defense and hunting Zubac whenever he had the opprotunity. But there were some positive developments. Specifically, as Lue said on Saturday, the Clippers forced Luka to play downhill and carry the Mavericks offense on his own instead of letting the Mavs’ role players take advantage of open looks. As we know all-too-well, Tim Hardaway, Jr., most notably, and others in spots have been torching the Clippers all series. If the Clippers can continue what they did in Game 3, they have a chance to even this series.

The Antagonist

There are a few more holes to plug, however. First, the Mavericks secured 13 offensive rebounds, including a few in the fourth quarter, which gave them second-chance opportunities as the Clippers were trying to maintain a vulnerable lead. This was often a product of going small late in games, but guys like Morris and Reggie also failed to box out at times. In the end, the Mavericks finished with 17 second-chance points, shooting 7/16 on those attempts. Giving this Mavericks offense second chance opportunities is not sustainable: In Game 3, the Mavs took 10 more field goal attempts than the Clippers, but made six fewer (shooting 44% to the Clippers’ nearly 58%). If the Clippers want to even this series, they cannot rely on this repeating itself.

Second, the Clippers let themselves get into a 19 point hole in the first quarter before cutting the lead down to three by the end of the first quarter. Again, this is not sustainable: While it was nice to see the Clippers stick to their gameplan and weather the Mavericks’ storm, we should expect that Rick Carlisle will make adjustments of his own. Moreover, while the Clippers should get some credit for slowing down the Mavericks’ role players, it is very possible that the Hardaway, Finney-Smith, and others shoot well-enough – not even excellent – and create enough offense to beat the Clippers in Game 4. That is, the Mavericks do not necessarily need their roll players to shoot with historic efficiency; if they had simply shot average, they might have maintained their early lead in Game 3.

Notes

Putting Zubac in the right spots: In the third quarter, Zubac showed that he can be a dominant force. Specifically, he had three offensive rebounds in short succession, which helped the Clippers keep their narrow lead late in the third quarter. But, as discussed above, he was a defensive liability when forced to switch onto Luka. In Game 4, it would be nice to see Zubac featured when Luka is off the court because he’s otherwise an effective player on both ends.

Playing downhill: This series, Kawhi and PG are shooting 85% and 88% respectively at the rim. If the Clippers want to head back to LA with an even series, they need to keep attacking the rim, getting fouled, and finding the reemerging shooters when the defense collapses.

That will do it for our preview of this critical Game 4 between the Clippers and Mavericks. For more analysis of the series, check out our podcast!

Clippers vs. Mavericks Game 4 Preview: Getting Even
Kenneth Armstrong

The Clippers took a 2-1 series lead with a fantastic performance in Game 3, and can bring the Mavericks to the bring of elimination with a win in Game 4.

Game Information

Where: Disneyworld, Orlando, Florida

When: 12:30 PM PT

How to Watch: ABC, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Clippers: Landry Shamet – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard- Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac

Mavericks: Luka Doncic – Tim Hardaway Jr. – Dorian Finney-Smith – Maxi Kleber – Kristaps Porzingis

Injuries

Clippers: Patrick Beverley Doubtful (Calf)

Mavericks: Williey Cauley-Stein Out (Not in bubble), Dwight Powell Out (Achilles), Jalen Brunson Out (Shoulder), Courtney Lee Out (Calf), Luka Doncic Questionable (Ankle)

The Big Picture

The Clippers took Game 3 with by far their most complete effort of the playoffs thus far. After a close first quarter, they took a double-digit lead in the second, and essentially controlled the game the rest of the way. Their efforts were sparked primarily by changes in rotations and strategies by Doc Rivers and the rest of the coaching staff, who made nearly every change wanted of them by fans. The way the game was won made fans more confident than the Game 1 victory, as things happened which seemed sustainable.

Most importantly, Kawhi Leonard looks like the best player in the NBA. There are other players with arguments to the claim (Giannis Antetokounmpo, most notably), but Kawhi has been dominant through three games, and Game 3 was his best so far. He’s been aggressive on offense, utilizing his strength and quickness to get wherever he wants on the court and muscling defenders out of the way. His shot, unlike his counterpart Paul George, has been on point, and the Mavericks simply haven’t been able to bother him. Kawhi’s defense has been a little shakier, but it improved greatly in Game 3, and considering that the Clippers can virtually put the Mavericks away in Game 4 with a win, expect him to come out sharp.

The other two promising signs were the play of Landry Shamet and Ivica Zubac. Shamet had one of his fines games as a pro, making extremely good decisions on offense (end of game three aside) and playing solid defense. The latter is most important, as it’s something that previous starter Reggie Jackson has proven incapable of. However, the biggest difference in the Clippers’ improved defense was playing Ivica Zubac 30 minutes instead of 18. He’s a fantastic rim protector, and putting him on Dorian Finney-Smith to allow him to help on Luka Doncic drives was a stroke of genius by the Clippers’ staff. He was dominant on defense, contributed on the glass, and chipping in 15 points on highly efficient shooting. In short, he fully earned 30+ minutes per game going forward, and hopefully he receives such.

Playing Zu and Landry more and limiting the minutes of Montrezl Harrell and Reggie Jackson should improve the defense significantly. Combine that with Kawhi Leonard’s play, the inevitable bounceback of Paul George, and the Clippers’ other weapons, and you have a very good and well-balanced team.

The Antagonist

The Mavericks have played well in this series. Their losing Game 3 didn’t have much to do with them (outside of Luka’s injury), and was more about how well the Clippers played. In particular, the Mavs’ bench continues to scorch, led by Trey Burke and Seth Curry. The Clippers have had no answer for the smaller guards, and if Doncic does sit out in this one, the Mavericks will surely give both those guys far more minutes. Maxi Kleber is putting up a good fight against Kawhi, despite Leonard’s numbers, though his poor shooting has cost the Mavericks badly. Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t had a true breakout game, but his shooting has been a factor in the series, and the Clippers have to be sure to keep a lid on him going forward.

However, this Mavs team is powered by one engine, and that engine had a malfunction in Game 3, as Luka Doncic came down hard on his ankle and twisted it badly. He checked back into the game a few minutes later but clearly didn’t look right. With a fairly short turnaround, it’s an open question whether he can play in Game 4. The Mavericks have actually outscored the Clippers in non-Luka minutes in each of the first three games, but that has more to do with the poor lineups facing them than any “Ewing Theory” going on. Without Luka, the Mavericks have nobody who can consistently create looks for others (outside of maybe the little-used JJ Barea or the shooting-averse Delon Wright), and that’s an issue over 48 minutes. If he can’t go, or is limited in any way, the Mavs’ offensive ability will be greatly damaged.

Notes

Benching Reggie: In our pod yesterday, there was a bit of a disagreement regarding what to do with Reggie. Lucas and Tomer thought it was not a good idea to bench Reggie entirely, because of locker room reasons (he’s a veteran who is very close with Paul George) and because he’s the only “true” healthy point guard on the roster. I disagree (insert Uncut Gems gif here). Not only has he been bad, but his decision-making and effort (especially defensively) have been inexcusable, and he does not deserve minutes. As for being a true point guard, the Clippers don’t really need one with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on the court, and Lou Williams is a far superior passer and playmaker to Jackson anyway. Rodney McGruder is a downgrade as a spot-up shooter, but he’s historically been a fine three-point shooter and is a far superior defender and energy presence. Outside of locker room concerns, I would have no hesitation in transferring all of Jackson’s minutes to McGruder and Terance Mann.

Trez Healthy: While I am firm proponent in playing Ivica Zubac more than half the minutes at center, it was good to see Montrezl Harrell look more like himself yesterday. He had several classic Trez plays where he got easy scores or fouls in transition by outhustling everyone down the court, and got a couple bully buckets too. He was effective on the offense end, and that’s what the Clippers need. His defense was not good (though it rarely is), but limiting his minutes against Boban helped. As long as he doesn’t play with both Reggie Jackson and Lou Williams at the same time, his defense probably won’t be too egregious. The Mavericks will need to play Kristaps more in Game 4 if Luka can’t play, which means the Clippers can also use Trez a bit more as well.

Paul George Struggling: The Clippers might not need Paul George to play at an A-plus level to win this series, but they do need him to turn around sooner or later (certainly by the Conference Finals, if they get there). He contributed on defense, as a rebounder, and as a playmaker in Game 3, but once again was hesitant attacking the basket and was ice cold as a shooter. It’s fine that he’s missing shots – it happens to everyone. However, his lack of drives to the rim to score around the basket or get to the line is less acceptable. Everything else he does is nice, and speaks to George’s efforts and overall talent, but the Clippers got him to be Kawhi Leonard’s second-in-command, and that means scoring the basketball. If the Clippers can get an early jump on the Mavericks in Game 4, maybe he can relax a bit and get into a groove.

That’s it for this preview of this Game 4 showdown between the Clippers and the Mavericks. Comment on the game below, and stay tuned on Twitter for injury updates regarding Luka Doncic and Patrick Beverley.

Clippers vs Mavericks Game 4 Preview: Seizing Control
Robert Flom