Not even Luka Doncic can handle the Clippers. The Los Angeles team beat the Dallas Mavericks at home this morning, thus achieving their ninth consecutive victory in the league (111-120). The Slovenian scored 28 points, being the top scorer among his teammates, but it was insufficient to stop the Angelenos who are fourth in the Western Conference with a balance of 17-10.
One of the Clippers’ top stars, Paul George, did not play this Thursday’s game against Dallas due to illness, but it was not an impediment for Tyronn Lue’s team, which has 14 wins and only three losses in 17 games played. Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Norman Powell took the reins of the game to the detriment of the American forward.
Seven of the eight players Lue used finished with double figures in scoring, including the aforementioned trident. The former Raptors player produced the most for his team in the 39 minutes he was on the court: 30 points, five assists and two rebounds. Powell followed in his wake as the second highest scorer with 21, compared to the 17 of the Clippers’ latest signing.
On the part of the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic once again led his team, despite not having his best night with a nine of 25 shooting at the basket. The former Real Madrid player had been reaching 30 figures for almost a month, but this streak ended this morning. However, he stayed close to his goal. The Slovenian scored 28 points, in addition to giving 10 assists and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Likewise, Tim Hardaway buried the performance of the Mavericks without Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II with 21 points. However, Jason Kidd’s team suffered another defeat, despite the fact that they took the lead on the scoreboard with 8:30 left in the final quarter (95-94). The city of Dallas contemplates how their team is now sixth in the West (16-11).
The Sixers’ victory against the Timberwolves, led by center Joel Embiid, was also the highlight of the night (127-113). Last season’s MVP scored the seventh game of his career with over fifty points (51 points, three assists and 12 rebounds).
Nick Nurse’s team achieved its seventh win in eight games this morning, defeating the leader of the Western Conference, which had only lost one of its last ten games. On the other hand, the Lakers’ KO against the Chicago Bulls was also the most popular this day (124-108).
The Angelenos have only won one game in the last five since becoming NBA Cup champions. DeMar DeRozan, with 27 points, was too much for Darvin Ham’s players. LeBron James was on the verge of a triple-double (25 points, 9 assists and 10 rebounds), while Anthony Davis, who had problems with his ankle, had 19 points, three assists and 14 rebounds.
The Lakers are eighth in the West with a record of 15-13. Meanwhile, in the East, the Celtics continue with an iron fist, after beating the Kings (119-144) and Nikola Jokic scored 31 points against the Raptors to give the Nuggets a new victory (104-113).