Clippers ɫ��̳: San Bernardino Sun

The Audible: On Dodgers’ success, Clippers’ failure and Sparks’ hopes

Jim Alexander, Mirjam Swanson — Thu, 09 May 2024 21:08:02 +0000

Jim Alexander: Well, that spring we were all anticipating kind of fell flat, didn’t it? Lakers: Gone. Clippers: Gone. Kings: Gone. What we have left are the Dodgers (who almost certainly will battle, and maybe even slay, their own playoff demons come October), the Angels (who almost certainly won’t) and the Sparks (who knows, and we’ll discuss that). Also the local club in Major League Rugby, which I had no idea existed until a couple of weeks ago. I mentioned that in and this morning I received an email from one of their representatives, reaching out.

See, people do read our stuff.

But, the Dodgers: Fans were grousing when they lost three straight series and went through a 5-9 stretch last month. I mean, what kind of SuperTeam was this, anyway? The folks are feeling better, assuredly, after their weekend sweep of the Atlanta Braves (who are good) and another sweep of the Miami Marlins (who really aren’t). Now the team goes to San Diego and San Francisco, and maybe we’ll find out some things. Or maybe not.

What we know for sure: Shohei Ohtani is not only the best player in the world but he’s even better while playing with a team that has something to play for. Teoscar Hernandez, who hit his 10th home run on Wednesday, was an underrated and inspired acquisition. And a pitching rotation that seemed early on to have some gaping holes is good now and could be great, or at least really good, by October.

Tyler Glasnow, who pitches Friday night in San Diego, is an ace. Yoshinobu Yamamoto . . Clayton Kershaw will be back for the second half. Bobby Miller will be back at some point. The young guys, , are starting to assert themselves.

And this should be a really good bullpen by the time all their pieces are back. Which, I realize, is an assumption. Everything, all the time, in every sport depends on health, and baseball is no different.

SuperTeam? Maybe, maybe not. Capable of winning a World Series? Quite possibly, though stuff happens between now and then. But they will give us a reason to pay attention all through the summer. Not every baseball territory is that lucky. (Sorry, Orange County.)

Whaddaya think, Mirjam?

Mirjam Swanson: I’ve gotten the sense sometimes that L.A. baseball fans get numb to all the regular-season winning. Or even jaded, considering how sensationally so many summers have gone only to peter out in the playoffs. Personally, I’d hope the joy of the journey would keep folks’ attention, because it’s a long season and, you’re right Jim, a lot of baseball cities don’t get even to taste regular-season success.

But, yeah, even by the Dodgers’ standards, this regular season seems special. That 5-9 stretch seems like a long time ago already with the way the team is hitting and pitching !

And, most of all, Ohtani is Ohtani. Can’t take your eyes off the guy. And he’s off to a special start, even by his own incredible standards. He had what was, for him, a first-35-games-best total of hits (52), runs (30), total bases (98), and batting average (.364), on-base percentage (.426) and slugging percentage (.685).

Every other day, it seems like, he makes more history. A couple of nights ago, per MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, Ohtani became the first Dodger (since at least 1901) with a .370 batting average and more than 25 extra-base hits in his club’s first 37 games since the expansion era (1961).

The full list:

• 2024 Shohei Ohtani

• 2017 Ryan Zimmerman

• 2008 Lance Berkman

• 2000 Todd Helton

• 1994 Albert Belle

• 1965 Willie Mays

• 1964 Willie Mays

And, of course, Ohtani is crushing the ball, , or …

No matter how disillusioned the Dodgers’ postseason letdowns have left you, if you’re a fan of the team (or a baseball fan?), you’re tuned in for Ohtani.

Jim: I said this when he was an Angel: There should be a phone app, an Ohtani Alert, so that we could make sure we were watching every time he stepped to the plate. It’s even more true now. And if you’re in the top rows in the outfield, you’d better be paying attention because the ball might come your way.

When he hits the ball right, it just has a different sound, like a cannon blast. The only guys I can think of in the past who had that trait: Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and Manny Ramirez.

Incidentally, we’ve gotten this far without discussing what Manager Dave Roberts refers to as “the interpreter situation.” to federal charges of bank fraud and “subscribing to a false income tax return,” as the Associated Press story put it, should at last put an end to that story. (Although Ippei has now Hoo boy!)

OK, I’ve been thinking about this Clippers flameout at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks (who in turn were thumped 117-95 by Oklahoma City in Game 1 of their series). Are we reaching a point where the Clippers’ 213 Era (the teaming up, more or less, of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George) will go into the dustbin right on top of the Lob City Era of Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and the rest?

It’s strange and almost cruel (unless you’re a Laker fan, but if you’re a Laker fan you have your own problems). But Lob City was part of the Donald Sterling era, that larger stretch of time when the Clippers often were a laughing stock and deservedly so. Drafting Griffin, trading for Paul and hiring Doc Rivers as coach brought the franchise closer to being a real NBA organization, but Steve Ballmer’s arrival hastened the process. These Clippers have a traditional, low-drama professional front office, as well as an owner who cares, is willing to spend money, and tangibly demonstrated both with the Intuit Dome (and I’m anxious to get in there and see what it’s all about).

These Clippers are trying, hard, and yet can’t get past those playoff hurdles, predominantly because of injuries to key players. (That might be the bottom line throughout sports: If you don’t have health, you generally don’t have a chance.) I’d say they’re snakebit, but is there another explanation I’m not seeing?

Mirjam: Agreed: It’s injuries. Their best player has a knee that won’t cooperate. Not many teams are going to win with their biggest star sidelined. That’s just a fact.

I don’t know whether this iteration of the Clippers should reasonably be expected to reach the mountaintop without Kawhi Leonard, but I’ve seen a lot of fans commenting about how they preferred the defunct and snake-bitten Lob City teams to this version. Because those were fun to watch, at least.

As I type today, Clippers fans are picking apart Podcaster Paul George’s latest Podcast P episode, because they expected so much more from him this postseason, both in terms of performance and fire. James Harden is something of an acquired taste, I’d say, and though he played relatively well against Dallas, his style of play didn’t seem to inspire enough enthusiasm among his teammates or their fans this time around. Whatever the going narrative is, let’s be real: Of course Russell Westbrook didn’t love going to the bench – and conversely, Clippers fans didn’t love seeing him brick open looks (really, really, really open looks) as defenders crowded his more adept shooting teammates.

The Clippers are old and slow and uninspiring, but the way the NBA’s current roster-building rules are set up, they don’t have much choice but to run it back, or to try. I mean, if PG walks, the Clippers can’t just replace his contract; they don’t have salary cap space to spend max money on a top free agent (who would be PG, btw). And trades? What A-lister could they possibly get for a broken-down Kawhi?

But they will have a shiny new arena, and I’m with you, Jim: Can’t wait to see how that feels and what it means for this organization and its long-suffering yet still dedicated fans.

Jim: I just had a thought. Really, it occurred to me just this moment. What if the Sparks moved their operations back to Inglewood, and into the Intuit Dome, in 2025? They might have to alter their team colors, because purple and gold (with a dash of light green) probably would clash with the color scheme in the home of the Clippers.

But given the issues with home venues this spring – which seem to have concluded with the announcement that three home games originally ticketed for the Pyramid in Long Beach, including the heavily anticipated visit of Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, – and the higher profile that the WNBA seems destined for, maybe it’s worth considering. After all, the first game in the history of the league took place down the block at the Forum, A crowd of 14,284 attended, L.A.’s Penny Toler scored the first basket in league history, and the New York Liberty beat the Sparks, 67-57.

Seriously, my guess is that this season’s games were going to be moved downtown anyway the moment the playoff departures of the Lakers, Clippers and Kings opened up those dates, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise. It was a welcome development, obviously, because Clark may be the biggest draw in sports right now. (Or at least the biggest non-Ohtani draw.) I just wonder – if the Kings/Lakers/Clippers were still playing, if the Sparks might eventually have sought out Honda Center to stage that game. Playing it in the Pyramid, which seats maybe 5,000, would have been a cruel joke.

I guess the question is whether the Sparks, with the addition of first-round draft picks Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson (and third-rounder McKenzie Forbes from USC) will be able to keep up on the court. It’s been since 2020, in the Wubble in Orlando, that the Sparks have been in the playoffs and 2017 since they’ve been in the Finals. Those were the days when Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike led the team. It’s tough to be a legacy franchise that has to rebuild.

But, at least, the Sparks and the rest of the WNBA won’t have to fly commercial any more, and it’s about damn time. The top college players might have to take less in rookie salaries than they received in NIL money in college, but at least they’ll no longer have inferior travel conditions in the pros, too.

Mirjam: Our Sparks beat writer John Davis and I have discussed that idea of yours – the Sparks getting into the Intuit Dome – quite a few times, and I get the sense that we’re not the only ones. Whether it would ever actually happen, despite the color schemes not meshing, that’s tough to say.

It’s easier for me to imagine the Sparks moving into the Clippers’ soon-to-be-vacant practice facility in Playa Vista, but I suppose we’ll see on that, too. The Sparks definitely could use a dedicated practice space, though, if they’re ever going to get back to winning regularly.

As I wrote recently, retaining and attracting free agents is only going to get harder because so many other WNBA teams are investing millions in upgrading or building new training facilities. Meanwhile, the Sparks are, this season, limited to their allotted time at El Camino College for practices. It’s a nice gym, but it’s not what the Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury and Fever have. Doesn’t offer the permanence of what the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx offer, etc.

And everything from facilities to flight is picking up for the WNBA, so the Sparks, if they’re going to compete, will have to keep up. And, sure, moving three of their first give games back to Crypto.com Arena is a good step, business-wise. There’s a reason the Aces – who regularly sell out their 12,000-seat Michelob Ultra Arena – are moving their first game against Clark’s Fever to the 18,000-seat T-Mobile Arena: They want to make money! I’m eager to see how many come out for that game in downtown L.A. on May 24.

As for the Sparks’ prospects on the court this season? State-of-the-art dedicated practice facility or not, I’m not counting out a team coached by Curt Miller if it can stay healthy, and here’s hoping.

Alexander: What can your favorite team’s ownership do better?

Jim Alexander — Wed, 08 May 2024 20:41:48 +0000

What, as a fan, do you want to see from the owner(s) of your favorite team(s)?

Is it enough to have a decent hot dog, a reasonably priced seat with good sightlines, a stadium or venue that’s relatively easy to get into and out of? Is concessions variety important to you? What about the in-game experience? Do you want a high-energy atmosphere, or would you prefer that the speakers be turned down a bit – even if it’s only once in a while – so you can hear yourself think or actually, you know, talk to the person next to you without having to scream?

Or is it all about winning and nothing else? Do you judge an owner by the money he/she spends on the team, and patience with and commitment to coaches and or managers? Or is there such a thing as too much patience? Do you want your owner to be involved, or does it matter if they’re hands-off or absentee owners who don’t sweat the details? (And, in some cases, might you prefer your owner to just keep writing checks and otherwise stay away?)

We have a pretty varied menagerie of ownership in SoCal. It’s not hard to figure out which ones are successful by classic standards; in most cases, you can look at the won-loss record for hints. But do the standards go deeper than the standings or playoff results?

I’ve got my ideas, as you might suspect. But I want to hear from you, the fans, and not just those who, um, are loyal to a particular team but can’t stand the owner. (Angels fans, I think we all know where Arte Moreno winds up on this list.) What makes the good ones stand out? What do they do to earn your loyalty? What can they do better?

As you might have already suspected from the way this column began, yes, I am trolling for responses. The more you cheer, or vent, the more additional columns come out of this concept. I’m only a little bit shameless.

Here are my thoughts, ranked by order of (my perceived) ownership quality:

1. Dodgers (Guggenheim ownership group, led by Mark Walter): Since closing their purchase from Frank McCourt on May 1, 2012, the Guggenheim Dodgers have won 11 division titles in 12 seasons and have a .602 regular-season winning percentage, along with one World Series title in 2020 – and the organizational feeling is that one is not enough, which fans should appreciate. And they’ve plunged lots of money into rejuvenating Dodger Stadium. (But I do wish they’d turn those speakers down once in a while.)

2. Clippers (Steve Ballmer): Ballmer, too, fares well in comparison with the previous ownership (i.e., the Donald Sterling reign of error). On-court success has been mixed and is elusive in the postseason largely because of injuries, primarily to Kawhi Leonard. But the Clippers have a stable, professional front office and what should be a transformative new home, the Intuit Dome, beginning next season.

3. Rams (Stan Kroenke): They’ve made the playoffs five of the last seven seasons and have stability, with Sean McVay on the sideline, Les Snead making the calls in the front office – including draft successes that are a that sometimes – and Kevin Demoff overseeing things. And SoFi Stadium has raised the standards for NFL stadia, although game day parking can still be a mess.

4. LAFC: (Multiple-person ownership structure including Magic Johnson, Nomar Garciaparra and wife Mia Hamm and Will Ferrell, among many others, with Bennett Rosenthal currently listed as lead managing owner): Success on the field, a gem of a facility in BMO Stadium, organizational stability and a bond with its supporters – considering that well before this team had any players, management listened to potential fans’ concerns and suggestions. Who else does that?

5. Ducks (Henry and Susan Samueli): They’re coming out of a rebuild, but this is a stable franchise with a loyal fan base, and Honda Center is 31 years old but still a first-class building. The OCVIBE development that will surround it, currently under construction, is essentially Anaheim’s answer to L.A. Live.

6. Chargers (Dean Spanos): Their tenancy in SoFi Stadium has quieted the narrative that accompanied them here in 2017 – “Who asked for you?” – and hiring Jim Harbaugh created their biggest splash since the move. Spanos was (and probably still is) hated in San Diego but has upgraded to meh in Los Angeles.

7. Lakers (Jeanie Buss): The 2020 bubble championship changed the narrative for a bit, but the feeling remains that Buss and her advisors aren’t really living up to the standards of Laker Exceptionalism. The circumstances around the firing of Darvin Ham led to a good amount of “do they know what they’re doing?” talk among a devoted but increasingly frustrated fan base. Can’t blame them.

8. Angel City Football Club (Multi-person ownership group, currently led by investor-owners Kara Nortman, Julie Uhrman, Natalie Portman and Alexis Ohanian and featuring plenty of celebrity involvement): The second-year franchise is worth $180 million, the highest of the 14 teams in the National Women’s Soccer League and evidence that the league waited way too long to expand to L.A. – but there’s talk about amid suggestions that those in charge are overspending. Potentially messy stuff, but the organization has done a lot right with its initiatives in the surrounding community.

9. Kings (Phil Anschutz and Ed Roski): Do we know for sure that primary owner Anschutz, whose worth according to Forbes magazine really cares about the performance of the team he and Roski purchased in 1995? Especially now, in light of a third straight first-round elimination, I’d think Kings fans would want some kind of indication the owner is at least paying attention to what GM Rob Blake, president Luc Robitaille and CEO Dan Beckerman are doing with his hockey team.

10. Galaxy (also Anschutz): You can make the case that Anschutz, an early and large investor in Major League Soccer, helped keep that league alive. (That’s why his name is on the MLS Cup.) He once owned six MLS teams but now his ownership is limited to the Galaxy, which is a contender again after several years on the outskirts. Again, better if he’s paying attention or not?

11. Sparks (Eric Holoman, CEO and governor): They’ve always had a loyal fan base, though the on-court product in recent seasons has affected attendance. Now, with women’s sports in general and basketball in particular having a transcendent moment, are the Sparks prepared to capitalize?

12. Angels (Arte Moreno): Remember when Arte was the people’s choice, the Guy Who Lowered Beer Prices? Yeah, I know. That was more than two decades ago. The issue here is that he’s too involved, too impetuous, and should hire a president of baseball operations to talk him down from the ledge when needed.

Incomplete, Rugby FC Los Angeles (Pete Sickle, CEO and co-founder): Did you know SoCal had another Major League Rugby team? Neither did I until a couple of weeks ago, which suggests getting the word out was a lower priority than it should have been. The first franchise won a league title in 2021 and was terminated after 2022. This one is relocated from Atlanta, plays in Carson and has a 1-6-1 record midway through the season. If you attend these games, email me and let me know what the crowds and enthusiasm level are like.

jalexander@scng.com

Clippers want to keep Paul George, James Harden with Kawhi Leonard

Janis Carr — Mon, 06 May 2024 22:56:35 +0000

PLAYA VISTA — Lawrence Frank didn’t hold back in reviewing this season, another promising Clippers season that again came up short.

“We’re just disappointed, frustrated. Frustrated for them, frustrated for our fans, frustrated for Steve (Ballmer, owner), frustrated for Kawhi (Leonard), but we own it,” Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, said on Monday during his annual postseason session with the media.

“There’s no excuses. The goal is to be the last team standing in June and obviously we got two wins and you got to get 16, so there’s a lot of work to be done.”

The Clippers were beaten by the Dallas Mavericks, 4-2, in their first-round series.

Much of Frank’s work involves retooling the roster around their three stars. With Leonard already locked in with a three-year, $153 million extension, Frank’s focus is signing Paul George to an extension and re-signing James Harden.

The Clippers hope to have the three future Hall of Famers when the team moves into its new arena, the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

George, 34, has a player option on the $48.8 million due next season and can become a free agent if he and the Clippers are unable to come to an agreement on an extension before June 30. George is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $221 million extension, and the Clippers could still offer him that amount if he decides to opt out. The Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic are reportedly keeping an eye on George’s moves, though other teams’ best max-level offer would still be $9 million less than what the Clippers can offer.

After the Clippers’ , George was asked whether he sees himself with the Clippers long term with Leonard and Harden.

“Yeah,” George said. “If it works that way, absolutely.”

George played 74 regular-season games this season, the most he has played in his five seasons with the Clippers. The All-Star averaged 22.6 points and 5.2 rebounds and shot a career-high 41.3% from 3-point range this season.

George, who averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the six-game series against Dallas, helped the Clippers reach their first Western Conference finals in 2021, after Leonard went down with an ACL injury in the middle of their second-round series.

“We want Paul, we value Paul,” Frank said. “Paul’s done some tremendous things here. He’s an elite player, and our biggest thing is we always want to be able to treat players well and pay them fairly, and we also have to build out a team, especially, this is a new CBA. But in terms of the exact money, I would never go into details other than we’ve had really, really good conversations over the course of the year and hopeful that we can get him to remain a Clipper.”

Harden, 34, will be an unrestricted free agent and the team can start negotiating with the nine-time All-Star after the NBA Finals. The former league MVP, who averaged 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 8.5 assists while shooting 38.1% from behind the arc in the regular season (21.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 8.0 in the playoffs), could opt to see what George does before figuring out his own future.

“We want to retain those guys,” Frank said. “We’re hopeful we can but also understand and respect the fact that they’re free agents. Our intent is to bring him back but also realize that they’re elite players and they’ll have choices.”

Frank said after securing George and Harden, his next move will be to lock down center Ivica Zubac and wing Terance Mann through extensions, then improve the roster on the margins. He said he intends to sit down with Russell Westbrook, who signed a one-year $7.8 million contract last summer with a player option, and his representatives.

“Russ has a decision to make and so we’ll kind of go through the process,” Frank said. “So, I’m not going to speak for any player in terms of what they’re thinking, but that’s our process.”

While Frank acknowledged the impact today’s young players are making in the league, he defended the team’s decision to extend Leonard, who missed the end of the postseason because of swelling in his surgically repaired right knee, something that continues to hamper him. Leonard missed the final eight regular-season games and Game 1 against Dallas. The two-time NBA Finals MVP played in Games 2 and 3, but he looked limited and the team held Leonard out for the remainder of the series.

Leonard, 32, played in 68 games, the most he has played in a regular season since 2016-17, but Frank said Leonard couldn’t have played Monday if the Clippers were still in the playoffs.

“We’re going to continue to try to learn how to manage his right knee,” Frank said. “He’s had two surgeries on his knee, but he’s shown that he can be durable. … He’s one of the top players in this league. He’s a great player, he’s a ceiling raiser and as you guys know, the reason why great players are so hard to get in this league; they have an overweighted ability to impact the game.”

Frank said he understands the skepticism that has crept up around the team after failing to advance past the second round for a second consecutive year after missing the playoffs altogether in 2022. He said that all players, even veterans, can up their game, learn new moves and plays.

“I’m not here to sell or over promise something that we can’t deliver or sell hype,” Frank said. “I’m more dealing with what our reality is. And I think sometimes when things repeatedly happen, it’s like are you not seeing it?

“What I’m saying is no, we see it but I also see the other side of it, too, and just because guys dealt with injuries or they’re in their mid-30s. Our guys played at a pretty high level this year. I fully expect them to be able for the next couple of years to maintain a high level.”

This season, he admitted, was a lost opportunity, a chance to prove the critics wrong. He said just because they came up short again this season, doesn’t mean the Clippers won’t be competitive next season.

“There’s no guarantees either way, but we’re optimistic that we can put together a team that’s going to be a whole lot better than the group that we just finished with,” Frank said. “I understand the skepticism of this is another year where you haven’t had the group [healthy]. But I would guard against the cynicism. Just because it’s happened [again] doesn’t mean it’s always going to happen next year.”

Clippers face questions after another season ends early

Janis Carr — Sat, 04 May 2024 17:29:49 +0000

The idea was to build a contender and titles will come. Bring in stars and high-level talent and meld them into a seasoned lineup and championships would follow.

But in the years since the “213” Era began, championships haven’t materialized – only injuries and heartache. The Clippers experienced more of the same Friday night when they were pushed out of the NBA playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks, who completed a 4-2 series victory with of their first-round series.

In the end, one star was missing, another didn’t show up and Paul George struggled to carry the load when it mattered.

In the end, the Clippers couldn’t do it without Kawhi Leonard, who, after his healthiest regular season in nearly a decade, sat out four of the six games because of a nagging swollen knee, missing largely his fourth consecutive postseason.

In the end, it was Dallas’ attack, led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, that destroyed the Clippers, who couldn’t stop the onslaught and reduced James Harden’s effectiveness in the second halves of the final two playoff games.

And in the end, the Clippers, who finished the regular season 51-31 and fourth in the tough Western Conference, .

Again.

But now what? Will owner Steve Ballmer settle for more of the same? Can the richest owner in the league afford to rely on Leonard, 32, George, 34, and Harden, 34, for another season?

Leonard secured a three-year, $153 million contract extension in January, which keeps him in a Clippers uniform through 2025-26.

George can decline his $48.8 million player option for next season and become a free agent this summer, a situation being watched closely by the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers have made it known they are interested in acquiring the nine-time All-Star.

George said he hasn’t focused on anything besides the playoffs at this point.

“I got a lot to kind of digest myself, so I haven’t even got to that yet,” he told reporters in Dallas. “Look forward to kind of going back, just letting everything kind of decompress, talk to my family, be around family support and then address the next step.”

Harden will be a free agent this summer and could seek a max-level contract, something that he sought – and didn’t get – with the 76ers. He has indicated he prefers to stay in L.A.

“I don’t even know,” he said after Game 6. “You are asking a lot of questions that I don’t have the answer to or haven’t even thought about.”

Then there is Coach Tyronn Lue, who hopes to sign a contract extension instead of seeking jobs elsewhere. His name surfaced as , who was .

“I didn’t come here to bounce around and go all over the place,” Lue said. “This is where I want to be. Hopefully, [the Clippers] feel the same way.”

The Clippers are likely to exceed $200 million in payroll next season, which would restrict their offseason spending because of the second luxury tax apron. And will it all be for another season that ends in a whimper?

Bad playoff losses have largely defined the Clippers since Leonard and George joined the team and Game 6 punctuated that notion, ending what started out as their most promising season to date.

This season was supposed to be different. Leonard and George, who ended the previous season on the bench with injuries, were healthy. Leonard played in 68 games, his most in seven years since his days as a San Antonio Spur.

They , costing them role players Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, Marcus Morris and KJ Martin and multiple first-round draft picks yet giving the team another dimension. The transition wasn’t seamless, the Clippers losing their first six games with him. After that rough start, though, the three-time scoring champion found his place alongside Leonard and George and the Clippers got rolling.

They won 26 of 31 games during one stretch, creating a championship buzz around one of the highest-paid – and oldest – teams in the NBA. Then came the All-Star break and the talk turned into online chatter of “what happened?”

Losses began to creep in. The Clippers struggled to figure out how to fix things, finally turning the corner shortly before the postseason. But then Leonard’s knee flared up and he missed the final eight regular-season games.

It would be a harbinger of the postseason as the team, without its scoring leader, went belly-up against the younger, more aggressive Mavericks.

Now, with their new Intuit Dome in Inglewood debuting later this year, will it be the same story for the Clippers, one of big promises and small returns?

Swanson: Clippers fall flat again in Dallas as season ends

Mirjam Swanson — Sat, 04 May 2024 05:20:25 +0000

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)
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 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)
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)
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)
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 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 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 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)
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)
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)
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 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 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)
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 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)
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 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 (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 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)
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 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)
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 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)
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 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 (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)

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DALLAS — As the song goes: Inglewood, always up to no good.

And now the Clippers live there.

Their next home game will be their first at the new Intuit Dome. You can put a period on the 2023-24 season: meant the Clippers won’t ever host another game at Crypto.com Arena.

Their opening-round loss in the Western Conference playoffs eliminated Coach Tyronn Lue’s team on his 47th birthday, the fourth-seeded Clippers bowing out in a first-round series against a Luka Doncic-led Mavs team for the first time in three meetings.

With Clippers star Kawhi Leonard sidelined with knee inflammation, Doncic (28 points and 13 assists) and Kyrie Irving (28 of his 30 points after halftime) proved a considerably more potent one-two punch than Paul George (18) and James Harden (16).

It all went in accordance with the NBA’s current trend: A young star – Doncic is 25 – with much to prove leading his team past an aging, content contingent past proving much.

But who knows? Maybe a young building will spark the Clippers? Maybe the franchise that still, after 54 years, has yet to win a championship will have better aura in its new arena?

More likely it won’t matter: You can take the team out of downtown L.A., but I doubt even a new arena can take the downtrodden out of these Clippers, certainly not as they’re currently constructed.

The 213 Era – aka the What-if-Kawhi-Leonard-Was-Healthy? Era – has been a study in what might have been, and might never be, Leonard’s right knee refusing to play ball for a third consecutive postseason.

Paul George said Kawhi Leonard — sidelined with knee inflammation — “wanted to be out there, wanted to be with us… it was more staff keeping him back.”

— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson)

Since Leonard and George linked up in L.A., the Clippers exited in the second round in 2020, in the conference finals in 2021, in the play-in in 2022 (a season Leonard missed recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament), and in the first round each of the past two seasons.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP with San Antonio and Toronto, Leonard was sidelined this postseason after right knee inflammation proved too much of a hindrance in his appearances in Games 2 and 3.

And so, with the Clippers’ best player relegated again to spectator status, Leonard’s high-paid pals’ play lived up to their promise.

They told us they felt no pressure going into Friday’s game. Stuff your ‘must-win’ in a dust bin, they said. “The pressure’s on them to win the game,” Harden proclaimed at shootaround Friday morning, echoing George’s comments immediately after the Clippers’ historically lopsided 30-point loss in Game 5: “If you fail, you fail.”

And they weren’t kidding. Urgency? Nonsense. The Clippers had no sense of it. Not not nearly enough.

All Lue was looking for on his birthday were quick, decisive actions.

But for much of the game, the Clippers gave him a lot of dribbling nowhere fast and tough-shot-taking. From Lue’s perspective, they ran out of gas.

And Dallas was spry, Dallas was the aggressor. The Mavericks swarmed defensively, forced shot clock violations, kept George under wraps. The Clippers gave up 18 offensive rebounds; all 21 of the Mavericks’ second-chance points felt important. The Mavs were fast to the floor for loose balls, frustrating the Clippers, holding them at bay until they blew it open after halftime, outscoring their guests 62-49, and summarily excusing them for the season.

The Mavericks just about blew the lid off their building when Irving danced into the corner and plunged a dagger into the Clippers’ season with his 3-pointer (and the foul) with 5:38 to play, putting Dallas ahead, 106-82.

Standing on business, as the signage all around the Dallas arena read.

Lue said team owner Steve Ballmer stopped by the locker room postgame with some “kind words.” The coach said a few times, “I’m proud of our guys” for taking the season seriously. Remember when a 26-5 stretch in the middle of it made believers of many? It’s a long season, though.

“Especially when you’re in that small group of teams that have a chance and you don’t get to get everything out of everything that you put into it, it’s frustrating,” George said after the game. “But we didn’t do enough to move on. That’s on us.”

Looking ahead, Lue said he plans to stay put, even if much of L.A. spent the day wishing he would switch teams to take the Lakers’ now-vacant head coaching job.

“I hope so, I didn’t come here to bounce around and go all over the place,” Lue said about extending his tenure with his current team. “This is where I want to be.”

George couldn’t be so committal. The Palmdale native can opt out and become a free agent this summer by declining his $48.8 million player option for the 2024-25 season.

“Yeah,” he wants to be back, he said, “if it works that way, absolutely.”

Indications are that the Clippers want to not only to lock up Lue, but to arrange to keep George and Harden around.

That makes sense, though, if only because it will be hard to imagine the Clippers can unwind themselves from their aging stars within the current constraints of roster building in the NBA, especially being so short on tradable draft picks.

So run it back? Take the regular season seriously or don’t, but meet you back here for a short, short-handed playoff blip again next year?

Lue, at least, seems ready for it. Eventually there has to be a breakthrough, right? Maybe in the new place.

“I like our team,” Lue said. “This was a good year. This year made me a better coach, having a team with four future Hall of Famers … it was good for me. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, outside of the early ending. I’m ready to move onto next season and get better.”

Thoughts from Coach Lue |

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest)

2ND HALF KYRIE TAKEOVER

Kyrie Irving scored 28 of his 30 points in the 2nd half to help advance the to the West Semis!

DAL visits OKC for Game 1 on Tuesday at 9:30pm/et on TNT

— NBA (@NBA)

Clippers’ season ends with Game 6 loss to Mavericks

The Associated Press — Sat, 04 May 2024 04:39:52 +0000

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)

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By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer

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.

Clippers’ Paul George feels no pressure in must-win Game 6 in Dallas

Janis Carr — Thu, 02 May 2024 22:11:16 +0000

Paul George has established himself as one of the best basketball players in the world. He has played in hundreds of basketball games and All-Star contests, numerous playoff series and one Olympic Games, winning a gold medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

George has his own sneaker and apparel line, lives in a $16 million home, hosts a podcast, and is set to make $354.1 million in career earnings by 2025.

But the Clippers’ future Hall of Fame wing player has never held the Larry O’Brien Trophy, never once appeared in a championship parade. Is time running out?

At 34 years old, George said he feels less pressure on the court to win, revealing after Wednesday’s that some of his competitive fire has ebbed as the years slip by.

“I think the beauty of it is the older I’ve gotten, the less pressure it’s been, honestly,” George said. “I think when it comes down to it, you work your tail off all summer. You train for these moments to where if you fail, you fail, but you just go out there and you give it all you have. Live with the results.

“But as far as pressure, not anymore. I don’t feel that pressure anymore. I’m not out there to prove nothing to anybody.”

George emphasized that he still wants to go out and show up for his Clippers teammates, leave everything on the floor and continue to be a leader but “live with the results.”

The results could include an early end to the Clippers’ once-promising season as soon as Friday. The Clippers are looking to extend the series and their season with a victory in Game 6 in Dallas. If necessary, Game 7 would be played Sunday at 5 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena.

To avoid an early offseason, the Clippers need George and James Harden to step up in Kawhi Leonard’s absence, and avoid the kind of woeful performance the two experienced in Game 5. George made just 4 of 12 shots. Harden finished with seven points on 2-of-12 shooting.

George said he, along with the rest of the team, also needs to adopt an attack mentality against Dallas’ smothering defense. The Mavericks held the Clippers to 37.9% shooting and forced them into making poor decisions from 3-point range, while comfortably shooting 54% from the field.

“(I just need to) see how I can be efficient and just make the game easy for myself,” George said. “I think that’s the key going into this, it’s just making the game easy. Taking what the defense gives me and making the game easy for me.”

Then in the next breath, George showed that his fire hadn’t gone out.

“I’m going to play as hard as I can in Game 6 and give us the best chance I can give ’em to go and get a win in Dallas,” George said.

Coach Tyronn Lue said that’s the kind of attitude the Clippers need to take into Friday’s game, not hang their heads.

“If you’re a competitor, and you know what the playoffs are all about, then you will be ready to go on Friday,” Lue said.

Game 6: CLIPPERS at MAVERICKS (Dallas leads 3-2)

When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV/radio: ESPN, Bally Sports SoCal, 1150 AM

Swanson: Clippers in trouble entering Game 6 vs. Mavericks

Mirjam Swanson — Thu, 02 May 2024 08:01:24 +0000

LOS ANGELES — There’s blood in the water, and Luka Doncic and his gang of sharks can smell it.

That isn’t to say that the fourth-seeded Clippers – who drowned in a big moment on Wednesday night, falling behind 3-2 in their first-round playoff series against the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks – can’t snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

They could. They’re capable of extending the series to a seventh game, of giving themselves at least one more game at Crypto.com Arena before the big move to the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

And, who knows, maybe the dangerous proposition of it being one and done will get the Clippers swimming with some actual urgency?

But also, maybe not.

In this series, there’s one team you can count on to be up for a fight, and there’s one you can’t count on for anything.

The Mavericks are the former, having twice rallied from substantial deficits to make games they ultimately lost real interesting.

, getting the deficit down to 10. And on Sunday in Dallas, , taking the lead in the fourth quarter to win the game, 116-111, and square the series, 2-2.

The Clippers, meanwhile, when they’ve fallen behind, have fallen off, unable or unwilling to muster similar effort against a snarling, jawing Mavericks team that’s very much on the hunt. A team that’s on the verge now of beating the Clippers for the first time in three first-round meetings in Doncic’s otherwise decorated Dallas tenure.

and, from the second quarter on, never in question. And then there was Wednesday’s forgettable 30-point loss, the largest final deficit in Clippers’ postseason history.

The Mavericks also handed the Clippers their largest loss in franchise history when they beat them by 51 points late in 2020, but the stakes were so much lower in that early-season game, two days after Christmas, than they were on Wednesday. The Clippers could have secured the inside track for a second-round playoff berth, but instead they sent their fans streaming for the exits with six minutes to play.

More than a few of those folks were leaving a game early for the first time, but they were so disgusted they preferred to pack up rather than stick around for what devolved into a stay-ready game between backups.

Not that home-court advantage matters for much when these teams tussle; the host team is 3-9 in their past 12 playoff games against each other, dating to their seven-game series in 2021 – an experience that was on the Clippers’ minds after Wednesday’s debacle.

Coach Tyronn Lue mentioned it, as did George and Ivica Zubac, who said, “We’ve been here before. A few years ago we were down 3-2 going to Dallas. Won Game 6. Went back home and won Game 7. So, we’ve been here before. We know what we gotta do.”

Sure. All they need is for someone to go off for 45 points, maybe make 18 of his 25 shot attempts, including 5 for 9 from 3-point range. Have someone else chip in with 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting. That was all it took for the Clippers to win Game 6 and force Game 7 in 2021.

There’s a problem, though. Kawhi Leonard – out indefinitely with right knee inflammation – doesn’t figure to be available for a 45-point encore Friday in Dallas. And Reggie Jackson, who delivered one of his classic Mr. June performances with those 25 points that night, now plays for the Denver Nuggets.

That leaves it up to George and James Harden, who scored 33 points apiece in Sunday’s win but combined for a paltry 22 on Wednesday.

With history as our guide, we knew Harden was due for a stinker, and he delivered, with just seven points on 2-of-12 shooting, including 1-for-7 from deep. George reverted to the complacent version of himself, finishing with 15 points on 4-for-13 shooting.

We don’t know how Harden will approach Friday’s must-win affair because he left Wednesday without talking to reporters. George, though, was characteristically philosophical postgame – and not the noticeably Peeved P he was during and after Sunday’s game. He said Wednesday he won’t expect to feel pressure going into Game 6: “If you fail you fail, but you just give it all you have and live with the results.”

The key then will be in the giving it all he has – which has to be more than he gave Wednesday.

“Tonight we were just slow,” said Zubac, the Clippers’ 7-foot center who started strong and finished with 15 points, making seven of his eight shots (all but one of which came before halftime). “I don’t think it was fatigue. Or anything they did. We weren’t ready for this game.

“You gotta come out and compete. Losing by 30 is not good.”

But maybe it’ll be a good wake-up call? Or maybe it’ll be a good game to flush from their memories?

Just as likely, it will go down as a good sign of what was to come from a Mavericks team that’s circling, hungry and ready, this time, to go in for the kill.

Luka Doncic, Mavericks push Clippers to brink of elimination with Game 5 rout

Janis Carr — Thu, 02 May 2024 04:47:11 +0000

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving, right, grabs a rebound in front of Clippers guard Terance Mann during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers guard James Harden, right, looks to pass the ball as Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic takes a 3-point shot as Clippers guard Norman Powell defends during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers star Paul George, left, tries to shoot as Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green, center, and center Daniel Gafford defend during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic drives past Clippers star Paul George, left, and Terance Mann, right, on his way to the basket during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic reacts to a foul call during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers guard James Harden, left, shoots as Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Dante Exum looks to pass the ball as Clippers center Mason Plumlee defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers guard Terance Mann, right, shoots as Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dallas Mavericks’ P.J. Washington dives for a loose ball in front of Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers star Paul George, right, tries to drive by Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr., right, goes up for a dunk as Clippers star Paul George defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard James Harden, center, shoots as Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, right, defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Paul George drives into Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers guard James Harden, left, loses momentarily control of the ball as Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Terance Mann takes a shot during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic takes a shot as Clippers guard Terance Mann defends during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic reacts during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden takes a shot during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II passes the ball around the back of Clippers star Paul George during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, center, dunks as Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, left, defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Paul George, right, shoots as Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Paul George, left, and Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II reach for a rebound during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Paul George takes a shot as the Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Terance Mann, left, drives around the Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers star Paul George takes a shot as the Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, right, looks for an opening as Clippers guard Amir Coffey defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic had 35 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Mavericks handed the Clippers their most lopsided playoff loss ever, 123-93, to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic yells after scoring during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac takes a shot as Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic defends during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford shoots over Clippers star Paul George during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers guard Terance Mann reacts during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, shoots as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Paul George, left, slaps a potential rebound away from the Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac dunks during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, left, passes the ball as Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, and Clippers star Paul George, back left, defend during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic reacts during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II shoots over Clippers guard James Harden during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington, left, shoots as Clippers guard Terance Mann defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Paul George, center, shoots as Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, right, defends and forward Maxi Kleber, left, watches during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd gestures to his team during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Derrick Jones Jr., dunks during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr., left, dunks as Clippers guard Amir Coffey watches during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac takes a shot in front of Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Terance Mann, right, shoots as Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, grabs a rebound as Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford reaches for it during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum, right, shoots as Clippers center Mason Plumlee defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Norman Powell takes a shot during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden, front, and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving pursue a loose ball during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook looks for a path around Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic passes the ball away as the Clippers’ James Harden, left, and Ivica Zubac, right, defend during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, left, and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving go after a loose ball during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, top, and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving dive for a loose ball during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, right, and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving dive for a loose ball during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, top, and Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving dive for a loose ball during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, top, and Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving dive for a loose ball during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, top, and Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving dive for a loose ball during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, front, and Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving pursue a loose ball during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving gestures as he dribbles during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic drives as Clippers forward P.J. Tucker defends during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden, right, passes the ball past Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, left, looks for a way around Clippers guard Terance Mann during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, center, shoots as Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, left, and guard Luka Doncic defend during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard James Harden passes the ball off as the Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II, left, Kyrie Irving (11) and Luka Doncic, right, defend during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving celebrates after scoring during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Clippers Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Norman Powell, left, shoots as Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II defends during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, is fouled by the Dallas Mavericks’ Derrick Jones Jr. during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) shoots as Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) defends during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Maxi Kleber, top, loses a potential rebound to Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, right, during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily ɫ��̳/SCNG)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, grabs a rebound away from Clippers guard Russell Westbrook during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, left, reaches in on Clippers guard James Harden during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Terance Mann, left, and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving reach for rebound during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr., right, celebrates after scoring as Clippers center Ivica Zubac stands by during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots as Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) defends during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, center, shoots as Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, defends during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, right, shoots as Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington, second from right, and center Daniel Gafford defend during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, dries toward the basket as Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr. follows during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington, second from right, reaches for a loose ball along with Clippers guard Bones Hyland, left, center Dereck Lively II, second from right, and guard Amir Coffey during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic takes a shot in front of Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden handles the ball during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, right, shoots as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, center, celebrates after scoring as Clippers guard Norman Powell, left, and center Mason Plumlee stand by during the second half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Terance Mann handles the ball during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden defends as Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving handles the ball during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving, front, steals the ball during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Norman Powell handles the ball during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving takes a shot as Clippers guard Terance Mann defends during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic handles the ball as Clippers guard Terance Mann defends during the second half of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
A general view of play between the Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks during Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES — Clippers coach Tyronn Lue’s message to his team after losing Game 5 by 30 points was simple and direct.

“I didn’t have a message,” he said.

Because really, what was there to say after the Dallas Mavericks trampled all over them and possibly their postseason dreams in a 123-93 loss on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. The lopsided loss left the Clippers down, 3-2, and facing elimination in the best-of-seven first-round series that now heads to Dallas for Game 6 on Friday.

If necessary, Game 7 will be back in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Another home game won’t be necessary, though, if the Clippers don’t improve or play with the sense of urgency that was missing in Game 5.

“We know how to win. We know we won two games,” center Ivica Zubac said. “We have got to be better. We got to be more physical. We got to play with desperation. We got to have better effort.”

The effort needs to be focused on stopping Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who went off for a game-high 35 points on 14-of-26 shooting and had seven rebounds and 10 assists despite playing with a head cold and a lingering sprained right knee.

“We knew at some point that Luka was going to have a Luka game,” Lue said. “We’re not going to hang our heads. We got to win four games. We go to Dallas, Game 6 on Friday and we’ll be ready to go.”

Most likely, the Clippers will be traveling east without Kawhi Leonard, who missed his third game in the series because of inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. Lue said Leonard’s status is “a day-to-day thing and when he’s feeling good and medical says he’s clear to go and that’s what we’ll do.”

Until then, the Clippers need James Harden and Paul George to continue to lead. But unlike the previous two games, George and Harden couldn’t fill the void left by Leonard in Game 5. The two never appeared in sync Wednesday.

For one, their 3-point attempts didn’t fall. They finished a combined 3 for 13 from long range. Other times they rushed shots, came up short on others or turned the ball over

Harden had been shooting 61% on his step-backs and 60% on his floaters, but neither turned out to be sustainable against a Dallas defense that zeroed in on the three-time league scoring champion.

He scored just seven points on 2-of-12 shooting (1 for 7 from 3-point range), while George finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds but shot 4 for 13 overall and 2 for 6 from behind the arc.

Lue attributed Harden’s letdown to him “being human.”

“He’s allowed to have a bad game,” Lue added. “We didn’t shoot the ball well. They tried to get up and pressure a little bit, which we didn’t handle like we had in the first four games. He played bad. It’s possible. He didn’t play well. So, I got to do a better job getting him in better situations and then being ready for Game 6, which I know he’ll be better.”

Harden, like most of the other players, had nothing to say, walking past the media without slowing down.

The Mavericks also limited George from gaining any real traction, and the rest of the team failed to provide any real offense, shooting 37.9% from the field.

“It was just an uncharacteristic game,” George said. “And, we got to be better. We got to be better going into a Game 6.”

Lue said the Clippers didn’t play well all around, offensively, and defensively.

“We just didn’t play a good game and so that’s OK. Turn the page,” Lue said. “You still got to win four games and we know we (can) win on that floor and we’ve shown that past two playoff series.”

Lue pointed out that the Clippers were in this position in 2021 when they were down 3-2 against Dallas and came back to win the series.

“We didn’t play our best game (tonight) and we understand that. I think we all understand that collectively. So, we’ll be better for Game 6,” Lue said.

The Clippers quit looking for Ivica Zubac after he had a hot first quarter, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds, while Terance Mann had 11 points and seven rebounds. Russell Westbrook also struggled off the bench, missing his first eight shots before finally scoring in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, Doncic didn’t let two early fouls or a stuffy nose slow him down. At Wednesday’s shootaround, he reportedly didn’t engage in much running and said he wasn’t sure how his knee would hold up.

He saved it all for the game, which turned into a one-sided affair midway through the third quarter. Doncic scorched the Clippers for 14 points in the third, stretching Dallas’ lead to 23 points during a 17-2 run. The Clippers missed nine consecutive shots and committed four turnovers during the 6:23 between their first and second baskets of the second half.

The Mavericks kept the pressure on in the fourth, leading by as much as 32 points.

Dallas shot 54% from the field and made 14 of 39 3-point shots. Maxi Kleber had 15 points (all on 3-pointers), Kyrie Irving finished with 14 points and six assists and Derrick Jones Jr. added 12 points.

Lue eventually threw in the towel and had bench players close out the game.

“This is why it’s a series. You know, we got to prepare and get ready for the next one,” George said.

The Clippers got off to a strong start behind Zubac and Mann, who got the team going with eight and seven points, respectively, in the first quarter.

Lue then switched out his starters for a lineup of Norman Powell, Mason Plumlee, Harden, Westbrook and Mann and the game got chaotic. The Clippers struggled to find the basket as Dallas began hitting nearly every shot to go up by eight points on a 3-pointer by Maxi Kleber at the 7:21 mark.

It didn’t get much better as the Mavericks stretched their lead to 12 with a 12-4 run before George made two free throws in the final 12 seconds as Dallas settled for a 56-46 halftime lead.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said before the game it was important to stop the Clippers from making 3-pointers and they achieved that goal in the first half. The Clippers were just 9 of 35 from behind the arc.

Dallas is on the brink of its first playoff series victory since 2022 and only its third since winning the NBA title in 2011.

Luka Magic was in full effect as the took a 3-2 series lead in LA!

35 PTS
10 AST
7 REB
14-26 FGM

Game 6: Friday, 9:30pm/et on ESPN

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Coach Lue shares his thoughts on game five |

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest)

Zu speaks on game five |

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Clippers’ Amir Coffey gaining confidence with expanded role

Janis Carr — Thu, 02 May 2024 03:04:44 +0000

LOS ANGELES — Amir Coffey has started twice in place of injured Clippers star Kawhi Leonard in their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks and with each pass and basket made, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue has seen a change in his confidence level.

“He’s always been able to attack in transition. He can make a shot,” Lue said. “He used to run more pick-and-roll when Kawhi (Leonard) and PG (Paul George) were out but he can defend. He can defend multiple positions.

“So, just his confidence, I think his growth, understanding the NBA game, understanding what we need from him on a nightly basis, and he’s grown, and he’s gotten better and better. So, it’s just good to see that he could finally be in the rotation and get consistent minutes too.”

Coffey started his third playoff game Wednesday as Leonard was ruled out the day before because of chronic inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. Although he hasn’t posted big numbers (averaging 3 points, 1.8 rebounds, .5 assists), Coffey’s presence has bolstered the Clippers’ defense.

“First couple of years I wasn’t playing as much, so it’s kind of just accumulated off the court in these past one or two games, being able to show my game to my coaching staff and my teammates,” Coffey said of his self-assurance after Game 1. “So, I guess it’s just kind of been growing a little bit.”

His teammates have noticed. Terance Mann said Coffey never let doubt creep in, staying positive despite limited minutes.

“A lot of guys in his position, they get uncomfortable with having to wait and they either just stop going to the gym or just start worrying about other things, letting the outside noise get into their ear,” Mann said. “He never did that. He stayed locked in, stayed patient throughout the whole way.

“I think it was his third year, he had a great year, and then the next year he wasn’t able to play that much, and a lot of guys would let that get to them, but he stuck through it. He trusted the coaching staff, he trusted the front office and now look at us. So, it’s pretty cool.”

NOTHING URGENT

Lue said Wednesday there wasn’t a sense of urgency heading into Game 5. The Clippers regained home-court advantage with their victory in Game 4 in Dallas that evened the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

“We understand what’s at stake. We understand we got home court back; we understand we gotta come out with a defensive mindset tonight to start the game. So just like we did in Game 4. Nothing changes.”

LONG-RANGE SUCCESS

The Clippers made an eye-catching 18 of 36 3-point shots in Game 1 and 18 of 29 in Game 4 that led to victories.

“We have to do a better job in keeping the Clippers away from the 3-point line and making it tougher to get shots,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “They have shot 3’s really well in their two wins; we’ve gotta do a better job of taking them off the 3-point line.

“When you’re talking about Paul George, he can make tough shots, (James) Harden can make tough shots. So even with running them off, they can make tough shots, or guarding them without fouling they can still make them. So, you just gotta make sure that there’s no freebies where they get easy ones. It’s the easy ones that can hurt you.”

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NOTHING URGENT

LONG-RANGE SUCCESS

Clippers ɫ��̳: San Bernardino Sun