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Mavericks’ Luka Doncic addresses his health, knee soreness after Game 4 vs. Clippers

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Mavericks’ Luka Doncic addresses his health, knee soreness after Game 4 vs. Clippers


Hobbled by an unspecified right knee injury, Mavericks’ Luka Doncic clearly hasn’t been his usual dominant self in this first-round playoffs series — not up to his standards in past games against the Clippers, regular-season and playoffs.

After Los Angeles’ 116-111 victory on Sunday afternoon in American Airlines Center, tying the series at 2-2, Doncic’s drop-off is most glaringly reflected in his statistics. He shooting 38.6% from the field, including of 13-of-49 (26.5%) on 3-pointers.

No Kawhi, no problem? Clippers stood on business vs. Mavericks to tie series 2-2

It’s clear Doncic’s defensive falloff since he sustained the knee injury during the first quarter of Game 3. Doncic was whistled for two fouls in the first 2:23 of Game 4 as he struggled to stay in front of Clippers attackers, a pattern that continued through the game as Los Angeles hunted him.

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“It’s hurting, obviously, but it shouldn’t be an excuse, man,” Doncic said. “We just came out a little sloppy. We’ve got to do way better than that.”

It might seem like quibbling after a game in which Doncic had a triple-double — 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. But anyone who has watched Doncic throughout his career, this season especially, knows he isn’t his usual self.

On Sunday he shot 10-of-24 from the field, including 1-of-9 on 3-pointers.

When asked specifically about his ability to move laterally and how that affects his defense, Doncic acknowledged it’s a problem. He was assigned to guard Amir Coffey, but Clippers star James Harden hunted Doncic in pick-and-rolls.

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What Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, Paul George said after beating Mavericks in Game 4

“I mean, yeah, I was in foul trouble,” Doncic said. “We said we wanted to try to limit Harden’s 3s. I was just trying not to give him 3s. Obviously, it wasn’t good, especially me.”

Doncic not being himself is also reflected in his postgame interviews following Games 3 and 4. Doncic’s voice is raspy and he sounds congested. After Game 4, he was asked whether the congestion makes it harder to breathe during games, thus affecting his energy level.

“It’s nothing,” he said. “We lost the game. Like I said before, for the knee, it shouldn’t be an excuse. I’m out there trying to play, trying to play a lot of minutes, trying to play hard. But sometimes you don’t have the perfect situation. So you’ve just got to go through it and do better.”

As Doncic noted, the Mavericks still not only rallied from a 31-point deficit but took a 105-104 lead on Kyrie Irving’s driving layup with 2:15 left. Irving scored 40 points, all of them after the first quarter.

Kyrie Irving’s explosion after scoreless first quarter was Mavs’ only shot at Game 4 rally

“I have to help him more,” Doncic said. “I feel like I am letting him down so I have to be there. I have to help him more. He’s giving everything that he has. He’s been amazing for us the whole series.”

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Twitter: @townbrad

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.





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Dallas, TX

Stars-Kings preview: Dallas looks to right the ship against Los Angeles

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Stars-Kings preview: Dallas looks to right the ship against Los Angeles


The Dallas Stars have one win in their last seven games and are looking to right the ship in the second game of a West Coast road trip.

Dallas fell in overtime to San Jose on Saturday and now look to bounce back against the Los Angeles Kings.

Here’s everything to know about the matchup.

Dallas Stars vs. Los Angeles Kings

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When: Monday, 9 p.m.

Where: Crypto.com Arena in LA

TV/streaming: Victory+

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Radio: Sportsradio 96.7/1310 The Ticket

Bottom line

The Kings host the Stars after LA beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in a shootout.

Los Angeles has a 19-15-10 record overall and a 7-9-5 record on its home ice. The Kings have given up 120 goals while scoring 116 for a -4 scoring differential.

Dallas has a 26-10-9 record overall and a 14-4-6 record on the road. The Stars rank second in the league with 154 total goals (averaging 3.4 per game).

The teams meet Monday for the third time this season. The Stars won the previous meeting 4-1.

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Top performers

Jason Robertson has 26 goals and 28 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has scored five goals with four assists over the past 10 games.

Alex Laferriere has scored 12 goals with 10 assists for the Kings. Andrei Kuzmenko has four goals and four assists over the last 10 games.

Last 10 games

Stars: 3-3-4, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 8.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.

Kings: 4-5-1, averaging 2.9 goals, five assists, 4.1 penalties and 8.7 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

Twitter: @dmn_stars

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Stars drop another in overtime after Sharks rally from two-goal deficit in third period

Dallas allowed goals on four of six Sharks power plays, including the game-winner in OT.

Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen, left, reaches for the puck against San Jose Sharks...
Stars-Sharks preview: Can Dallas build momentum against Macklin Celebrini, San Jose?

The Stars will look to string some wins together after snapping a long losing streak last time out.

Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.



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Dallas, TX

Cowboys news: Former Dallas 1st-round pick weighs in on who should be next DC

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Cowboys news: Former Dallas 1st-round pick weighs in on who should be next DC


Every offseason it seems like I see a linebacker’s name pop up that the Cowboys need to get to help the defense. This year it may be Quincy Williams. Could he be the guy the middle of the defense is missing? I’ve seen some reactions, and when you dig into the type of player he is the coverage numbers may make you second guess. And honestly, I get it because it doesn’t look pretty. When you actually dig into how Quincy Williams plays, and how he is used, the conversation changes fast. So let’s talk it through like fans, not scouts trying to sound smart.

The First Thing You Need to Know: This Dude Lives in the Box

Quincy Williams is not a coverage linebacker, and he never has been. He will not be floating around in space trying to run with slot receivers or carry tight ends down the seams. When you look at the snap data, it’s not even debatable. He spent hundreds of snaps in the box, very few on the edge, only a handful in the slot, and almost none on the outside.

That tells you exactly how defenses should play him. He is there to attack downhill. If you judge this man based on coverage stats alone, you’re grading a fish on how well it climbs trees. How Quincy Williams Actually Plays

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What I like about Quincy Williams is simple: when he sees it, he goes. There’s no dancing, no waiting for someone else to make the play. He triggers fast and shows up with bad intentions. Is he perfect? Absolutely not, but were any of the Cowboys linebackers last season even above average.

He will miss a tackle here and there because of his aggressive play style, but I’ll take that every day over a linebacker who catches blocks and gets pancaked. What I found even more impressive was he lines up all over the box. He can play weak side, strong side, and take inside looks, but he rarely just sat in the middle calling things out. He’s a flow-and-hunt guy, so the Cowboys would need to let him scrape, chase, and hit. That is where his game makes sense.

Not Much of a Pass Rusher

This may be another area where people will get twisted. Yes, you will see him walked up near the line sometimes, but he’s not an edge rusher. He is not winning with moves or stacking sacks. Those snaps are about pressure and confusion to make the offense account for him, mess with protection calls, and let the defense work around it. He’s a blitzer, not a technician, and if used incorrectly, it looks ugly.



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Man dies after dog attack in Dallas home, police say

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Man dies after dog attack in Dallas home, police say


A man has died after a dog attacked him inside a home in North Texas on Thursday afternoon, officials say.

Dallas police officers responded to a call in the 4100 block of Esmalda Drive at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7. Investigators determined the man was attacked by a dog inside a residence in the 4100 block of Pringle Drive.

The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.

According to a press release, the Dallas Police Department is treating the case as a homicide.

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Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Kenneth Castoral at 469‑781‑1261 or by email at kenneth.castoral@dallaspolice.gov.



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