Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to a 96-93 road win over the Los Angeles Clippers in a closely contested NBA Western Conference playoff game, scoring 32 points to even the series.
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving teamed up to score a total of 55 points, leading the Mavericks to even the series at 1-1 against the Clippers. In a closely contested fourth quarter, Luka Doncic and Irving orchestrated a crucial 14-0 run that secured the win for the Mavericks. Despite the Clippers initially taking the lead in the fourth quarter, the duo of Luka Doncic and Irving helped Dallas regain control and secure a well-deserved victory. Doncic finished with 32 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, while Irving contributed 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. James Harden and Paul George were the top scorers for the Clippers with 22 points each.
McDaniels guided a well-rounded Minnesota offensive performance where all five starters scored in double digits, helping the Western Conference third seeds come within two wins of clinching the series. The Timberwolves’ defense played a crucial role in the game, particularly in the second half, as they effectively shut down Phoenix and frustrated key players Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Phoenix had a tough night, with Booker fouling out in the fourth quarter and Grayson Allen leaving the game due to an ankle injury.
Minnesota heads into the next game with confidence after limiting Phoenix to just 42 points in the second half. They capitalized on Phoenix’s turnovers, scoring 31 points off 20 turnovers, while the Suns only managed to score two points off the Wolves’ 14 turnovers. McDaniels led the team in scoring with 25 points, along with eight rebounds and three assists, while Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley contributed 18 points each. Anthony Edwards finished with 15 points, eight assists, and three rebounds, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 12 points.
In Milwaukee, Pascal Siakam scored 37 points to lead the Pacers to a significant victory over the Bucks, tying the series. Siakam also contributed 11 rebounds and six assists, while Myles Turner and Andrew Nembhard added 22 and 20 points respectively to secure the win for Indiana. Despite a strong start from Milwaukee, led by Damian Lillard due to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence, Lillard’s 34 points were not enough to hold off the Pacers. Indiana took the lead before halftime and extended their advantage in the fourth quarter, eventually leading by 23 points. The next game in the series will be held in Indianapolis on Friday.
