MANILA – Los Angeles Clippers reached the Western Conference semifinals after a 126-111 beating of Dallas Mavericks in the do-or-die Game 7 of NBA first-round series on Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Kawhi Leonard fired 28 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, while Marcus Morris Sr. added 23 markers and seven triples as the Clippers finished the best-of-seven series at 4-3.
Paul George scored 22 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, Reggie Jackson and Terance Mann have 15 and 13, respectively, while Nicholas Batum and Luke Kennard got 11 points each for the LAC, which will battle Utah Jazz next.
The Clippers took charge of the game in the second period behind four straight triples from George, Kennard, and Morris for a 63-54 advantage after a completed three-point play by Mann.
The Mavericks rallied back in the third and surged to an 81-76 lead, but inside hits by Leonard and George followed by three-point conversions by Morris enabled the Clippers to clinch a 100-85 gap entering the fourth.
Early hits by Leonard in the fourth gave LAC its massive lead at 106-87. Dallas made its last push at 107-114, but back-to-back triples by Jackson and Morris and freebies by George sealed the win for the Clippers.
Luka Doncic ended the game with 46 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds. Dorian Finney-Smith and Kristapz Porzingis contributed 18 and 16 markers, respectively, as they bowed down to the Clippers anew for the second straight year.
Meanwhile, Atlanta Hawks nearly wasted a lead as high as 26 points before holding off to a 128-124 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Hawks were stunned after seeing their first-half lead trimmed to 115-118 but quickly responded behind a triple by Bogdan Bogdanovic, two free throws, and a dunk by John Collins to increase the gap to 126-118 with 16 seconds left.
The 76ers answered with a three-point play from Joel Embiid and a dunk by Ben Simmons to come to within 124-126 with 10 seconds left. Bogdanovic then secured the victory for the Hawks with two free throws.
Young top-scored with 35 points – 25 came from the opening half. Bogdanovic and Collins added 21 markers apiece for the Hawks.
BOX SCORE:
LOS ANGELES 126 – Leonard 28, Morris 23, George 22, Jackson 15, Mann 13, Jackson 11, Kennard 11, Rondo 3, Zubac 0, Ferrell 0, Coffey 0, Oturu 0.
DALLAS 111 – Doncic 46, Finney-Smith 18, Porzingis 16, Marjanovic 14, Hardaway 11, Powell 4, Brunson 2, Burke 0, Richardson 0, Kleber 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
35-38, 70-62, 100-85, 126-111./PN
