Los Angeles (AFP)
Slovenian Luka Doncic scored 32 points and led the Dallas Mavericks to equalize their series with the Los Angeles Clippers 1-1, after defeating their host 96-93, in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
As for Doncic, who also made 9 assists, Kyrie Irving scored 23 points, giving the Mavericks a good return to Texas, where they will play the third and fourth games.
Doncic and Irving formed a wonderful duo in the final quarter, as they contributed by scoring 14 consecutive points, putting the game out of reach of the Clippers, who returned to their ranks Kawhi Leonard (15 points), after recovering from injury.
After winning Sunday's match at home 109-97, the Clippers, who trailed throughout the match against their guest, seemed on their way to a second victory, when they led by six points at the beginning of the final quarter, but the Doncic-Irving duo contributed to a deserved victory for Dallas.
“We had to make some noise in the second match,” Doncic said, “and as you know, the first one was not our best.”
He added, “We came back and wanted to prove that we can confront them,” praising the performance of his colleague Irving. “It is great to have him on the team with us. It helps me a lot. He is a wonderful young man, and I am happy to have him.”
For the loser, James Harden and Paul George each scored 22 points, and the team that wins four out of seven possible games qualifies for the next round of the playoffs.
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