LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (27-30) AT MAVERICKS (33-23)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas
TV: BSSW
Radio: The Eagle, 97.1 FM; Univision 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: For the second time in three days, the Mavs will play host to the Clippers. That’s the game where Luka Doncic poured in a career-high 51 points on Thursday to lead the Mavs to a 112-105 victory. That ties Dirk Nowitzki’s franchise record for the most points scored in a regulation game. Doncic tallied 28 of his points in the first quarter – that’s also a personal career-best. In addition, it’s the most points any NBA player has scored in any quarter this season. Also, the 32 points Doncic scored in the first half is the highest of any player in the league this season for the most points scored in the first half, eclipsing the 31 points scored by Boston’s Jayson Tatum. . .After tonight’s game, the Mavs will embark on a two-game road trip on Tuesday in Miami and finish it up on Thursday in New Orleans before they pause for the All-Star break. . .The Mavs have won 17 of their past 22 games, including their last four and 11 of their past 15. . .With nine rebounds each from Maxi Kleber and Doncic, plus seven more from Dorian Finney-Smith, the Mavs outrebounded the Clippers on Thursday, 41-31. The Mavs are 23-5 this season when they outrebound their opponent. . .Counting that 17-point lead they held on to against the Clippers, the Mavs have built at least a 10-point lead in 41 games this season. And they are 33-8 in those games. . .This is first time the Mavs have been 10 games over .500 since May 6 of last year when they beat Brooklyn, 113-109.
About the Clippers: Led by 21 points from Marcus Morris Sr., the Clippers placed five players in double-figure scoring during Thursday’s loss to the Mavs. Also for the Clippers, Norman Powell scored 19 points, Reggie Jackson had 18 points and eight assists, Terance Mann finished with 13 points and five rebounds, and Nicolas Batum added 10 points. . .The Clippers outscored the Mavs in the paint (52-46) and in fast break points (10-5) in Thursday’s game. . .Clippers coach Tyronn Lue knows his team has to do something to try and slow down Luka Doncic, who popped in 51 points on 17-of-26 shots in Thursday’s game. “I didn’t think he was going to get that hot, but you know he had it going,” Lue said. “I could have switched up the defense earlier in the game. I think those are tough shots he took, but he did a great job of playing the game.”. .The Clippers have lost three straight games. . .After tonight’s game, they return home to entertain the Golden State Warriors on Monday. . .Since the 2011-12 season, the Clippers have the third-best record in the NBA at 526-315 for 62.5 percent. The top two teams are the Golden State Warriors (538-295, 64.6 percent) and San Antonio Spurs (533-305, 63.6 percent). . .The Clippers will be trying to even the season series against the Mavs. Back on Nov. 21, the Clippers clipped the Mavs, 97-91, in Los Angeles. Two days later in LA, the Mavs defeated the Clippers, 112-104.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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