The 5 takeaways from the Mavs’ 121-112 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers
Feb 26, 2019Dwain Price
WHAT’S UP DOC?: Kudos to Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers for calling a timeout with 9.4 seconds remaining in Monday’s game so his own fans could give Dirk Nowitzki a well-deserved standing ovation. During the timeout, Rivers got on the microphone and urged the fans to stand and cheer for Nowitzki, which they did. Rivers and those Clippers fans realized Monday may have been Nowitzki’s final game at the Staples Center, so they wanted to show their appreciation for the fine work he’s done during his 21-year career.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE WATCH: In his first game since the All-Star break, Luka Doncic registered his fourth triple-double of the season as he finished the game with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. That’s the most triple-doubles by a member of the Mavs since Michael Finley also had four triple-doubles during the 1999-’00 season. The Mavs’ single-season franchise record for triple-doubles is nine by Jason Kidd in the 1995-’96 season. Kidd also collected four triple-doubles as a rookie during the 1994-’95 campaign.
POWELL’S CAREER NIGHT: Dwight Powell really stuffed the stat sheet Monday. The five-year veteran poured in a career-high 24 points, hauled in eight rebounds, distributed four assists, picked up a pair of steals, and also blocked two shots. In addition, Powell was very efficient from the field in perhaps his best game ever. He was 10-of-11 from the floor, 2-of-2 from 3-point range and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. And it was Powell’s dunk with 16.4 seconds left that gave Luka Doncic his 10th assist and put the finishing touches on his fourth triple-double.
TURNOVERS WERE A PROBLEM: One game after the Mavs committed a franchise-low three turnovers on Saturday against the Utah Jazz, the Clippers used 17 turnovers by Dallas to score 21 points. Since the Mavs only scored two points off of six Clippers turnovers, the turnover differential was clearly the difference in this game. Facing a lot of pressure, double-teams and traps, Luka Doncic uncharacteristically turned the ball over a career-high nine times, while Tim Hardaway Jr. committed six turnovers.
HARDAWAY GOES FOR 20 — AGAIN: For the fourth time in the past six games, Tim Hardaway Jr. was able to crack the 20-point barrier. Hardaway was 7-of-16 from the field – including 4-of-11 from behind the 3-point line – and wound up with 20 points in 35 minutes. He also pulled down six rebounds and handed out two assists. Hardaway tallied 14 of his points in the second half, including eight in the third quarter when the Mavs held their largest lead of the game at 83-78 with 3:03 remaining when Hardaway fed Maxi Kleber for a 3-point basket.
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