Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers had enough answers to resist Luka Doncic’s record debut especially after the 21-year-old’s running mate was thrown out of the game.
Leonard had 29 points and 12 rebounds, and the Clippers got a big boost from Kristaps Porzingis’ throw to beat the Dallas Mavericks 118-110 on Monday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.
Doncic finished with 42 points, the most ever by a player in his first postseason game, adding nine assists and seven rebounds. He had hung the No. 7 seed directly at the Clippers most of the night.
“I mean, he’s great,” Leonard said.
Doncic even smiled to be different. His evaluation of his historical achievements?
“Terrible,” he said. ‘I should never have converted 11. That’s 11 more possessions I can have. The thing about this game is that I really need to be better than that. ‘
Los Angeles took the lead when Porzingis was sent off for picking up his second technical foul in the third quarter and Doncic could not bring the Mavs back fully.
“KP had my back. He did it for me. He did it for his teammate. He had my back, ”Doncic said. “Not just me, but the whole team appreciates that. I don’t think it was fair to take him out of the game, especially in the playoffs. ‘
Porzingis got his second technical foul on a break with Marcus Morris. Referees awarded both players technical fouls. Porzingis had recorded his first technical foul in the first half for his reaction to a foul called when he believed he was blocking a shot.
Yahoo Sports
(@YahooSports)Porzingis snagged his 2nd technical foul over this scuffle and is out.
Morris did not think any of the players deserved a technical. “Men of the playoffs, no one should be thrown into the playoffs,” he said. “I know her team hurt so much, but not my fault.”
LeBron James, who often has an interest in seeing the Mavericks defeat the Clippers, agrees. “Man that was BOGUS AS HELL MAN !!!!! Cmon man, ”he wrote on Twitter.
Elsewhere in Monday night’s playoff games, Denver, Toronto and Boston beat Utah, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, respectively.
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