Clippers’ season ends with Game 6 loss to Mavericks
Paul George (18 points) and James Harden (16) endure a poor shooting night (2 for 16 combined from 3-point range) in a 114-101 loss in Dallas, where Kyrie Irving (30) and Luka Doncic (28) lead the Mavericks
Clippers guard James Harden tries to drive to the basket as Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving defends during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. The Mavericks won, 114-101, to win the series 4-2, ending the Clippers’ season. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) drives to the basket in front of Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) and guard Dante Exum (0) during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic shoots over Clippers center Ivica Zubac, center right, during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic reacts during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Clippers star Paul George considers his options as the Dallas Mavericks’ Derrick Jones Jr. defends during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. The Mavericks won, 114-101, to win the series 4-2. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford shoots in front of Clippers guard James Harden (1), guard Terance Mann (14), center Ivica Zubac (40) and forward Paul George, behind, as Mavericks’ forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) looks on during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Clippers guard James Harden drives against Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Clippers’ Amir Coffey, bottom, fouls the Dallas Mavericks’ Maxi Kleber during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
The Clippers’ Amir Coffey, left, fouls the Dallas Mavericks’ Maxi Kleber during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) crashes to the floor after being upended in front of Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) and guard Amir Coffey during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks fans react after a call during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Maxi Kleber lays on the court after being fouled during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Clippers star Paul George (13) is defended by Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) and center Daniel Gafford (21) during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green dunks on an alley-oop pass from Luka Doncic, not pictured, over Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) as Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) and Mavericks’ center Dereck Lively II (2) look on during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Derrick Jones Jr., center, celebrates with P.J. Washington, left, and Daniel Gafford, right, during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving defends during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic asks for a call as he sits on the floor during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic argues with an official during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Clippers forward P.J. Tucker shoots the ball during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic talks with head coach Jason Kidd, left, during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford celebrates a basket during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden tries to drive to the basket as Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving defends during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. The Mavericks won, 114-101, to win the series 4-2, ending the Clippers’ season. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Recording artist Bad Bunny sits courtside during the first half of Game 6 of a first-round playoff series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Clippers on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Clippers guard Norman Powell, center, falls backwards as he shoots over Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) and forward P.J. Washington, right, as Luka Doncic (77) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving takes a 3-point shot over Clippers forward P.J. Tucker (17) and guard Terance Mann (14) during the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Clippers star Paul George puts up a three-point shot over Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) drives past Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) puts up a 3-point shot over Clippers star Paul George (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to dribble past Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, as Mavericks’ head coach Jason Kidd looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd talks with star guard Luka Doncic during the second half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden looks up during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) congratulates forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) passes the ball as he falls in front of Clippers forward P.J. Tucker and guard Norman Powell (24) during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, right, slaps hands with P.J. Washington during the second half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) drives past Clippers guard Norman Powell during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) talks to head coach Jason Kidd during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic steps back to take a shot in front of Clippers guard James Harden, center, as guard Norman Powell (24) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, center, reacts in front of Clippers star Paul George (13) after getting fouled during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford, left, reacts in front of Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the second half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic reacts during the second half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving gets to the basket for a layup in front of Clippers forward P.J. Tucker during the second half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic shoots as Clippers guard James Harden defends during the second half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic reacts during the second half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) pumps his fist during the second half of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) embraces guard Kyrie Irving after Irving hit a 3-point basket late in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic hugs Kyrie Irving (11) during the second half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, left, congratulates teammate Kyrie Irving as Irving speaks to the media after beating the Clippers, 114-101, in Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, right, hugs Clippers guard James Harden after the Mavericks beat Clippers 114-101 and clinched the series in Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Clippers guard James Harden speaks to Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic after the Mavericks beat the Clippers, 114-101, and clinched the series in Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving leaves the court after beating the Clippers 114-101 in Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
A general view of the Clippers playing the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night in Dallas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
DALLAS — On a night when the Clippers were again playing without one of their stars, they needed more from the healthy ones in order to extend their season.
As it turned out, they didn’t get enough from either one.
Luka Doncic had 28 points and 13 assists and Kyrie Irving scored 28 of his 30 points in a second-half surge while Paul George and James Harden endured a poor shooting night as the Dallas Mavericks finished off the Clippers with a 114-101 victory in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Friday night.
With Irving alongside him this time, Doncic did what the Slovenian superstar couldn’t three years earlier – close out the Clippers. The fifth-seeded Mavericks beat the Clippers for the the first time in three first-round tries over the past five seasons and will open the Western Conference semifinals at the top seed, Oklahoma City, on Tuesday night.
“We’re pushing each other off the court to be better, and then when we get on the court it’s just like synchronicity,” Irving said. “It feels good.”
George had 18 points on 6-for-18 shooting (2 for 10 from 3-point range) to go with 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who won the first two times they played without All-Star Kawhi Leonard in the series but didn’t have enough scoring punch in the last two he was sidelined by right knee inflammation.
Harden had 16 points and 13 assists but was just 5 for 16 from the field and missed all six of his 3-point attempts as the Clippers were eliminated in the first round for the second consecutive season despite the early-season trade for the 10-time All-Star.
“A lot of emotions and things going through my mind right now,” Harden said.
Norman Powell scored 20 points for the Clippers, and Ivica Zubac had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Irving, added at the trade deadline last year for the kind of playoff run the Mavs hope they just started, spent plenty of time guarding Harden in the first half, when he had two points on just six shots.
The eight-time All-Star opened the second half with a layup to break a 52-52 tie, then Doncic hit a 3-pointer after going 0 for 7 from deep in the first half. Following a Clippers turnover, Irving hit a 3-pointer for an eight-point lead after Dallas had lost a 13-point advantage in the second quarter.
The Mavs outscored the Clippers 35-20 in the third quarter – the same quarter that fueled the Game 5 win in Los Angeles for a chance to clinch – and pushed the lead to 20 early in the fourth.
Irving gave Dallas its biggest lead with a flashy four-point play when he hit a leaning 3-pointer as he was bumped by P.J. Tucker and made the free throw for a 106-82 lead.
The Clippers answered with an 11-2 run to get within 13 but never seriously threatened a big comeback in the final minutes after George, Harden and Zubac each played at least 22 minutes in the first half to get them back in the game.
“It caught up with us, and you saw that in the third quarter and into the fourth,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We just ran out of gas.”
Doncic, who also has dealt with illness in addition to a sore knee, was 9 of 26 from the field and just 1 of 10 from behind the arc while going 9 for 11 on free throws. Irving was 10 for 13 from the field after halftime.
“Terrible, man. I need some rest,” Doncic said before walking away from a TV interview – and into a three-day break.
Now Doncic will try at least to match his long playoff run of two years ago, when Dallas stunned Phoenix with a Game 7 blowout in the West semis before falling to eventual champ Golden State in five games in the West finals.
P.J. Washington scored 14 points with some big 3-pointers for the Mavs, going 4 for 8 from deep, and Daniel Gafford had 13 points with several emphatic buckets down low.
“They’re very important when you look at the culture of our team,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd about the Mavs’ pair of trade-deadline acquisitions. “Our defense changed when they got here. They’re not going to complain. You don’t have to run a play for them.”
Dallas’ Maxi Kleber didn’t return after spraining his right shoulder when he took a hard fall on a blocking foul against Amir Coffey on a drive in the first minute of the second quarter.
Kleber, whose 3-point shooting was a boost for Dallas in the series, returned to shoot free throws, making one of two before leaving at the next dead ball.
