NBA: Crazy finish: Smith Jr. blocks Dallas to victory

The Dallas Mavericks (11-10) took the next victory without Luka Doncic and beat the Los Angeles Clippers (15-7) 114:110. Dennis Smith Jr. secured the victory for the Mavs in the last action per block.

Bad news for the Dallas Mavericks before the game: The Texans had to do without rookie and game designer Luka Doncic. Maxi Kleber also dropped out due to a knee injury. For Doncic, Dorian Finney-Smith slipped into the first five.

The game started with a duel between Harrison Barnes and Danilo Gallianri, both of whom were hot in the first quarter and scored double digits (15 and 14 points). Without Doncic, the Mavericks lacked Ball Movement in some situations, which is why Barnes was often used in isolation. But the Clippers could not be shaken off, Lou Williams brought Los Angeles with the Buzzer with 35:34 in front, by this time the lead had already changed ten times.

In the second quarter, however, the Mavericks had problems, also because Barnes got a short break. The strong bench of the Clippers around Montrezl Harrell defended strongly, started offensively and gained a cushion of 9 points. After three minutes without points the Texan J.J. Barea, who kept his team in the game during this phase, scored 6 points. All in all he scored 12 points in the second section and initiated a 17:2 run of the Mavericks, Dallas goes into the break with 62:58.

After the break tea the Clippers stayed on the heels of the Texans. The Mavericks defended strongly, collected three blocks and extended their lead to 8 points shortly before the end of the quarter. Barea was decisive here again, who made some good plays. Before that, the Mavs fans had to endure a shock second: Dennis Smith Jr. was knocked out a tooth by Patrick Beverly in the scramble for the ball, but came back in the last quarter.

At the beginning of the last quarter, Harrell showed why he is one of the best bench players in the league. Clippers sent him into the post again and again, where he scored the first 7 points of the clips. However, the hosts did not let themselves be intimidated and remained in the lead. However, two and a half minutes from time Avery Bradley equalled after a weak phase of the Mavs, 105:105.

It went into a hot final phase: after a misthrow from Barnes, Jordan tapped the ball through the cage, the Mavericks led again. Lou Williams answered coldly from outside, but another Mavericks putback in the person of Finney-Smith put Dallas 111-110 in front. In the next possession DAJ stealte the ball of Williams and hit at the line a free throw, 27.4 seconds remained the Clippers. The ball went after the inbound into the hands of Tobias Harris, who dribbled into the post in the mismatch against Smith Jr., but he blocked the attempt of Harris and secured the victory at the line.

Topscorer at the Mavericks was Barnes with a season high of 30 points. All starters of the Mavs except Smith Jr. (9 points) scored double digits. Jordan put up 16 points and 23 boards against his ex-team. From the bench Barea made a lot of steam with 24 points (9/18 FG), 5 boards and 4 assists. On the other hand, Harrell was the outstanding man: he scored 23 points (11/15 FG) and grabbed 10 rebounds. Like Williams, Gallinari scored 21 points.

The Clippers have to fight the New Orleans Pelicans in the night from Monday to Tuesday, while the Mavericks receive the Portland Trail Blazers one night later.

Dallas Mavericks (11-10) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (15-7) 114:110 (BOXSCORE)

J.J. Barea. The backup point guard of the Mavs could not be held by the clippers. He had already collected 20 points in the first half. Above all, however, he was on hand when the Texans lacked the ideas and the Clippers threatened to pull away. Barea acted as usual strongly from the pick-and-roll and was also solid from outside. Barnes also played strongly.

Patrick Beverly. I don’t suppose you can accuse Beverly of intent in the strike against Smith Jr. But the other is true for the scene in the last quarter. Out of frustration, he fits the ball in the direction of the fans. After a review of the refs he has to go to the cabin. It was only his first technical foul, but such an action is directly punished with a sending-off. His performances before were also not appealing: 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assist. A weak day also hit Harris, who only hit five of his 18 litters.

At the beginning of the second quarter the Clippers got going, Salah Mejri was clearly overwhelmed by the intensity of Harrel and Co. The problem: DAJ had already collected two fouls early in the first quarter. Nevertheless, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle trusted his Big Man and was rewarded. At the end of the game Jordan had 4 personal fouls.