Five thoughts from Mavericks-Clippers: Dallas’ comeback attempt from down 31 falls short

Five thoughts from the Dallas Mavericks’ 116-111 loss in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers:

Bottom line

With a victory at home in Game 4, the Mavericks had an opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 lead in this best-of-7 first-round series. How commanding? Entering this season’s playoffs, teams that have taken a 3-1 series lead have gone on to win 95.4% of the time: 268-13.

By losing Sunday afternoon, Dallas lost homecourt advantage and the series is tied 2-2. That sets up a pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday in Los Angeles. In NBA history, when series are tied at 2-2, the Game 5 winner goes on to win the series 81.7% of the time: 188-42.

The Rally

The Clippers took a 55-24 lead after James Harden’s 3-pointer with 5:43 left in the second quarter. Dallas stormed back by scoring 52 of the next 73 points to pull within 78-76 on a Kyrie Irving 3-pointer with 1:36 left in the third quarter.

The Clippers pushed the advantage back up to 92-81, but a Derrick Jones Jr. 3-pointer with 8:31 left in the game started another rally. When Luka Doncic’s 3-pointer with 5:03 left tied the score at 98, it marked the game’s first tie since it was 0-0.

Kyrie Irving’s layup with 2:14 left gave Dallas its first lead, 105-104, since it was 8-7 in the game’s opening minutes.

Paul George erupts

The self-anointed Paul “Playoff P” George entered Game 4 averaging 40% shooting while scoring only 51 points for the series, including just 9 points in Game 3. In Games 2 and 3 he totaled the same number of fouls as field goals: 10.

But in Game 4, George scored 16 points in the first quarter alone and had 26 by halftime to finish with 33. He was especially deadly from 3-point range, making 7-of-10 attempts.

No Kawhi, no problem

Clippers president Lawrence Frank announced before the game that there had been an “organizational decision” to sit six-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, due to a return of soreness and inflammation in his right knee.

Frank said it was clear to everyone in the organization, including Leonard, that he wasn’t himself in Game 3, when he scored 9 points and pulled down 9 rebounds while being limited to 25 minutes of court time.

“The obvious question I know is coming: ‘When’s he coming back?’ I can’t tell you a timeline,” Frank said. “I wish I had a crystal ball. It will just basically be until he can show that he can make all the movements that he needs to make. That’s when he’ll come back. That will be the timeframe.”

Much like when they played without Leonard in Game 1, the Clippers jumped out to a big early lead. In Game 1 they led 34-22 after one quarter. In Game 4 they 39-16 after one quarter.

Dallas defense falters

The Clippers scored 93 points in Game 2 and 90 in Game 3, marking the lowest back-to-back outputs by Mavericks opponents this season. On Sunday afternoon, though, the Clippers shot 61% in the first quarter and 54% for the game to finish at 116 points.