LOS ANGELES – Maxi Kleber has a simple outlook on his three-point shooting.
It’s the same attitude all of the Mavericks try to have.
“The shots I get, I take them,” Kleber said on Wednesday as the Mavericks drop-kicked the Los Angeles Clippers 123-93 in Game 5. “It goes for everybody. When it’s the right shot you take it and live with the results because it’s the best shot for the team.”
Kleber took a lot of shots on Wednesday night that were right for the Mavericks. He hit four of six three-pointers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena and tacked on another one in the second half. His 15 points were a big reason that the Mavericks were able to blow out the Clippers and take a 3-2 series lead.
Kleber had not scored more than six points in any of the first four games of the series, although it wasn’t for lack of efficiency. His three-point shooting has come around in the playoffs. He hit four of five triples in Games 2, 3 and 4.
“Amazing, man,” said Luka Dončić of Kleber’s play Wednesday. “I think we created a lot of open shots. And Maxi knocking down three in a row, that helped. The whole team, the energy, the bench was into the game. He was very big today. Big shots.”
Kleber had a rugged regular season, missing a big chunk of the season with a dislocated toe that refused to heal in any sort of timely manner.
He said the week off between the regular season and the playoffs certainly helped him.
“I think a little break helped, I was able to get in the gym, get reps up,” he said. “I was dealing with my foot before. I know I’m going to get those shots. I just got to keep shooting them.”
The Mavericks were very much in help mode on Wednesday. Dončić and Kyrie Irving were putting pressure on the Clippers’ defense, which would collapse to the paint upon their penetration.
That left shooters like Kleber free to fire away from the perimeter.
“It’s very important for us with Luka and Kai running the offense,” Kleber said. “The more they attack, the defense will collapse and everybody else will be open. That’s how we create those shots.”
Kleber is the Mavericks’ Swiss Army Knife. He fits any role they need him to. Sometimes, he’s the lone true big man on the court. Other times, he’s paired with Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford.
But regardless of who he’s on the court with, his job remains the same.
“Maxi’s role doesn’t change,” coach Jason Kidd said. “He’s out there to help defensively and on the offensive end to spread the floor and knock down open threes or make a play for a teammate. His role hasn’t changed and he’s playing his role at a very high level right now.”
Kleber was part of a bench brigade on Wednesday that scored 52 points. It was Kleber’s shooting that will grace the highlight reel. But it was very much a group effort, he said.
“It doesn’t matter who’s playing great for us,” Kleber said. “If we score or we win, it doesn’t matter who it is, we celebrate together. Obviously, it’s a nice feeling to be that guy and to get the shots and also make them. But overall, you want to win as a team and make the right plays.”
Mission accomplished on all of the above.
X: @ESefko
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