Dallas initially answered the Clippers increased intensity and interest by making four of their first five 3-pointers– consisting of one, lastly, by Maxi Kleber– to take a 16-9 lead. However the Clippers trapped Doncic into a couple of turnovers, provided the ball to Kawhi Leonard in the lane, made 11 consecutive shots and rose to a 19-0 run that provided a commanding 41-22 edge after 12 minutes.
The Mavs uncharacteristically dedicated seven early turnovers.
With his group already tracking by 22, Doncic was and made a 3-pointer fouled. Or so he believed. But the shot was waved off, Doncic missed out on both free tosses and the Mavs despair grew deeper.
In Game 4, Dallas rallied to an impressive win from down 54-33.
In Game 5, Dallas routed 53-31 without any hint of a miracle.
The Mavs got no closer than 22 in the 2nd half, resting Doncic the whole 4th quarter.
Said Carlisle after the threatening very first quarter, “Weve got to stand our ground.”.
Rather, the Mavs sat this one out.
2 dreadful signs:.
* Doncic looked tired, hopped on his gimpy left ankle, missed five more free tosses and got a technical nasty for grumbling non-calls in the very first half. (It probably didnt assist that L.A.s Marcus Morris at one point stepped on Lukas bottom foot with enough force to eliminate his shoe … and to trigger onlookers to question if it was on function.
With his team currently trailing by 22, Doncic made a 3-pointer and was fouled. The shot was waved off, Doncic missed both complimentary tosses and the Mavs anguish grew much deeper.
The Clippers star broke out of a series-long shooting downturn with 35 points, then said, “I underestimated mental health, honestly. For the record, the Mavs are now 0 of 2 in follows up. After the franchises just other playoff buzzer-beater– on Vince Carters corner triple to stun the San Antonio Spurs in 2014– they dropped the next game by four points.
Is that what happened?
” I hope not,” Carlisle stated.
Luka, your ideas?
” Ive seen it, yeah of course, “he stated. I just hope it wasnt deliberate.”.
Dallas trails the series, 3-2, with Game 6 set for Thursday at 8 p.m. In NBA playoff history, groups that win Game 5 of a seven-game series that is connected at 2 have actually won the series 82.2 percent of the time, creating a 171-37 record.
After Game 4, Clippers coach Doc Rivers chastised his team and questioned its effort.
” Theres a distinction in spirits,” he stated. “Right now were weak-minded.”.
In Game 5 the Clippers– on the court and especially on the bench– were energized; the Mavericks tired.
” Weve just got to concentrate on ourselves,” Dallas Tim Hardaway Jr. said, keeping in mind that L.A. “did a great deal of chirping … If I say anything else Ill get fined.”.
Were still awaiting Vanilla Ices follow-up to “Ice Ice Baby.”
The Karate Kid generated The Next Karate Kid.
Even Da Vinci painted a couple of cars after Mona Lisa. (Probably.).
Confirming that follows up indeed suck, Luka Doncic, Rick Carlisle and the Dallas Mavericks followed Sundays Game 4 masterpiece against the Los Angeles Clippers with a forgettable flop in Tuesday nights critical Game 5. Though that getaways overtime buzzer-beater– stressed by Doncics remarkable game-winning 3-pointer– wouldve been tough to top, the Mavericks rather scraped a new bottom.
With Doncic limping and whining his way to just 22 points and the head coach getting ejected for arguing the timing of a replay challenge in the third quarter, the Mavs were completely dominated, 154-111. The Clippers scored 19 consecutive points to take control midway through the first quarter and after that coasted to the most points in their playoff history, pressing the underdog, overachieving Mavs to the edge of removal in the bubble.
” A very bad performance by us,” Carlisle said. We have to have a stronger physical disposition.”.
The Mavs set suspicious franchise records for most points permitted in a championship game while connecting the worst loss in postseason history (matching the 134-91 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1983).
* Paul George appeared; Kristaps Porzingis still didnt.
The Clippers star broke out of a series-long shooting slump with 35 points, then said, “I underestimated psychological health, honestly. I had stress and anxiety, a little bit of anxiety. Simply being secured here, I just wasnt there. I inspected out.”.
Meanwhile, Porzingis – without much explanation at all – missed his 2nd consecutive playoff video game with what the group is referring to as “knee pain.”.
Porzingis, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee while betting the New York Knicks in February 2018, has dealt with right knee problems throughout this season. He missed 10 games in late December-January due to the issue, and– in spite of a four-month rest courtesy of COVID-19– likewise remained the Mavs Aug. 10 bubble win over the Utah Jazz.
An MRI on Porzingis knee today showed no structural damage, however at this point at the least its horrible optics, and at the most its warranted to question the Unicorns heart.
Porzingis had 34 points and 13 rebounds in Game 3, but has actually been undetectable since.
The Mavericks are extremely still in a series with the heavily-favored Clippers despite ending up just one of the 5 games with Doncic and Porzingis on the court together.
But after Thursday nights demoralizing demolition, their Disney magic appears operating on fumes.
For the record, the Mavs are now 0 of 2 in sequels. After the franchises only other playoff buzzer-beater– on Vince Carters corner triple to stun the San Antonio Spurs in 2014– they dropped the next video game by four points. Tuesday nights margin felt more like 400.
