Clippers crush Mavericks in push to avoid Play-In Tournament
INGLEWOOD — The margins in the Western Conference get thinner with each game. The pressure to secure one of the top six spots is building on those four teams that continue to jockey for position behind the top teams.
The Clippers are among those feeling the heat, knowing that each win helps them avoid the Play-In Tournament and each loss adds to the gravity of the situation.
“The last 10 games we’ve played so far have been playoff games,” Coach Tyronn Lue said of the Clippers’ recent stretch. “We got to win pretty much every game to solidify that sixth spot, and we understand that.”
Lue said having that intensity and playoff pressure every night can serve as a motivator.
“I see them responding (to the pressure),” Lue added.
The Clippers used that motivation to get a quick jump on the dismantled Dallas Mavericks and didn’t let up, coming away with a 114-91 victory on Friday night in the first game of a back-to-back set at the Intuit Dome.
The teams play again on Saturday night, giving the Clippers another opportunity for a stress-free victory. Only they might have to do that without Kawhi Leonard, who, although healthy, usually sits out the second game of back-to-backs.
Leonard said, in his brief post-game moment, his status would be evaluated Saturday morning.
“Our No. 1 goal is to make the playoffs, whatever direction we got to go,” Lue said.
And if that means the Clippers must rest Leonard on certain nights or rely on other teams’ misfortunes, they will take it.
Their victory Friday, combined with the Golden State Warriors’ victory over the Denver Nuggets, pushed them from No. 8 to No. 7, a game behind the fifth-place Warriors (45-41) and just two back of the third-place Lakers in a tight five-team pack.
At 45-32, the Clippers are tied with the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves and No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies, who were both idle.
“I mean, our mindset is win out (right) and win all the games,” center Ivica Zubac said. “We depend on ourselves. We’re not trying to get help. It’ll be nice, but it’s up to us. If we win out, we’re in a good spot, so we’re focused on us and if someone loses, good for us.”
The Clippers, who have now won 13 of their past 16 games, had little trouble maintaining their focus on their playoff goal against the limited Mavericks (38-40).
Ten-time All-Star Anthony Davis was ruled out before the game with a left adductor strain, the same injury that sidelined the former Laker for 18 consecutive games. Mavs coach Jason Kidd said there is a chance Davis plays Saturday in the rematch.
The Mavericks already were without All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who had ACL surgery eight days ago, leaving Kidd to adapt a more balanced approach for a team that bears little resemblance to the one that beat the Clippers in December.
Without their two biggest stars, Dallas put up little resistance against the Clippers, who shot 49.4% from the field and a blistering 14 for 30 from 3-point range. They also outrebounded the Mavericks 48-39 for their third consecutive victory.
Leonard led the Clippers with 20 points, six rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes, sitting out the fourth quarter. Zubac posted his 54th double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Guard Norman Powell drilled his second 3-pointer at the 7:29 mark of the second quarter, setting his new career high for a season (172). He finished with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting overall (2 for 5 from long range).
James Harden had a quiet 13 points, four rebounds and five assists, while Bogdan Bogdanovic added 12 points and six assists off the bench.
Naji Marshall had a team-high 22 points for the Mavericks, who shot 20% (4 for 20) from 3-point range, their second-worst mark of the season. Spencer Dinwiddie added 18 points and Jaden Hardy scored 16 points before leaving the game late in the fourth with a knee injury.
“We just got to figure out how to win games. I know it is crazy, but we just got to figure out how to win games,” Lue said. “… We just have to stay the course. Just got to win games and get to the playoffs.”
Winning their final five games would go a long way toward locking down a top spot without help.
“Puts me in a bad mood,” Zubac said of the days when the Clippers win but so do the other teams they are battling for seeding. In the meantime, the center will be watching games and checking the standings.
“Everyone is trying to stay out of the Play-In,” Zubac said. “You don’t want to depend on one game or two games for your chances to get in the playoffs. You want to make that top six.
“So everyone’s fighting for the playoff spots, everyone’s treating every game like playoffs and honestly, it’s a fun thing what the NBA did with that Play-In. I think it’s a really good thing. It’s very competitive and it’s been good. It’s been fun. Just kind of locking in … every game is a must-win. And I’m sure other teams are that way, too.”