Los Angeles Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks Recap 11/11
- Updated: November 11, 2015
Let’s get this part of the story over with as I along with just about every other basketball fan have grown tired of discussing what happened between DeAndre Jordan and the Dallas Mavericks this summer, other than Mark Cuban who is becoming more unprofessional about the situation as time passes on. This was DeAndre Jordan‘s first game in Dallas since spurning the Mavericks this summer to return to Los Angeles after reaching a verbal agreement with the team. Beyond some excessive booing whenever Jordan touched or even looked at the basketball, nothing really was that different from any other road game for the Clippers.
With that out of the way let’s talk some basketball which is much more interesting.
Amidst the booing the basketball being played by the Clippers against the Chandler Parsons-less Mavericks was poor. Chris Paul struggled to make a shot in the first half and went a terrible 1-7 from the field in that half of play. Paul however was able to stabilize his poor shooting performance by dime dropping like the “point god” we all know him as, picking up 11 assists by the end of the game.
The Clippers would end up leading the Mavericks to end the first half 54-53 behind a strong performance from who else but Blake Griffin who ended the night with 21 points to go with 9 rebounds and 3 assists. J.J. Redick would leave the game near the end of the first half and would not return with back spasms.
In the third quarter, the momentum shifted. Los Angeles suddenly started to succumb to the negative energy in the building and missed just about every shot they took. Emotions started to boil over as both Doc Rivers and Blake Griffin picked up unnecessary technical fouls and Dallas took advantage of the Clippers downturn. Winning the quarter 31-24, giving them an 84-78 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
The Clippers were able to wear down Dallas and fight their way back into the game in the fourth. Reaching Lawler’s Law first with a little under five minutes to go in the quarter leading 100-97, on what else but a free throw made by DeAndre Jordan while Dallas deployed the Hack-A-DJ strategy. The man of the night in Dallas, Jordan would end the night with 9 points, 11 rebound and 1 block.
Dallas would grab hold of the game late though as the Clippers began to cool off again and Dirk Nowitzki heated up. The Mavs would be able to retake the lead and hold off Los Angeles for the 118-108 win. The Clippers starting 5 never seemed to get into sync in this one and the injury to Redick may have had quite a bit to do with that.
Going on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter, keeping the game close, and stepping up with an injured JJ Redick late in this game was exactly what the doc (Rivers) ordered in this one from his bench as the effort was needed to keep the team in the game. Austin Rivers stepped up in a big way in the absence of Redick dropping in a clutch 16 points. Crawford, Smith, Johnson and Pierce all chipped in as well dropping in at least 7 points a piece. This was the type of performance the Clippers needed to see from their new and improved bench that has yet been able to string together a consistent level of solid performances.
Mavericks fans left American Airlines Arena Wednesday night getting what they came for as their team was able to pick up a win they clearly wanted more than the Clippers. Dirk Nowitzki and Wesley Matthews both stepped up huge for the Mavs as they put up 31 and 25 points respectively. Los Angeles will absolutely have to show more fight in their next game against a wiry , young Phoenix Suns team tomorrow night. Can’t win them all and certainly at this point in the season the Clippers won’t lose any sleep over this one. Go Clips Go!
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