DALLAS — The Clippers’ star-laden lineup is still searching for its first win together.
Luka Doncic scored 44 points and the Dallas Mavericks routed the Clippers, 144-126, on Friday night in an NBA In-Season Tournament game, the Clippers’ third straight loss since James Harden joined the lineup.
Doncic shot 17 for 21 from the field, going 6 for 9 from 3-point range. Kyrie Irving added 27 points, going 5 for 8 from behind the arc, to help Dallas improve to 1-1 in the tournament after an opening loss at Denver.
The Mavericks took control with a 47-18 second period and a 33-4 run in the first half that included 17 consecutive points, eight to finish the first quarter and nine to begin the second quarter. Their largest lead was 32 points early in the third period. They reached 100 points with 4½ minutes in the third and finished with their highest point total of the season.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 26 points in their tournament opener. Harden, who joined the team last week following the Nov. 1 trade from Philadelphia, had 14 points – all in the first quarter. Russell Westbrook also had 14.
The Clippers scored the first eight points and led 31-19 before the Mavericks took over. Dallas led 77-51 at halftime, 10 points more than its previous highest-scoring first half.
COURT ISSUE
The Mavericks had to play their first In-Season Tournament game on their regular court – not the special-edition tournament court.
The NBA said “a manufacturing issue” kept the Mavericks from having a ready-for-tournament-play court delivered in time for Friday’s game, so Dallas’ regular home court was installed for the matchup instead.
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The Mavericks’ tournament court was supposed to be mostly silver, with a darker gray stripe down the center of the floor with three images of the NBA Cup – one at midcourt, the others in each of the foul lanes – displayed as well. All home courts for tournament games follow that design pattern, though the color schemes are wildly different in each city.
Some players have voiced concerns about the courts and their footing on the painted surface. Indiana players Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton both said they felt like they were slipping on the Pacers’ tournament floor when it debuted last week.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the court would be ready for Dallas’ next scheduled home game in the tournament, Nov. 28 against Houston. The tournament runs through Dec. 9.
UP NEXT
The Clippers host Memphis on Sunday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena.