SERIES SCHEDULE
(best-of-seven, all times PT)
Game 1: Sunday, at Clippers, 12:30 p.m. (ABC/Ch.7)
Game 2: Tuesday, at Clippers, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3: Friday, at Mavericks, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: April 28, at Mavericks, 12:30 p.m. (ABC, Ch. 7)
Game 5: May 1, at Clippers (TBD)*
Game 6: May 3, at Mavericks (TBD)*
Game 7: May 5, at Clippers (TBD)*
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Clippers won the regular-season series vs. the Mavericks, 2-1
Nov. 10: Mavericks 144, Clippers 126, at Dallas
Nov. 25: Clippers 107, Clippers 88, at Crypto.com Arena
Dec. 20: Clippers 120, Mavericks 111, at Crypto.com Arena
TALE OF THE TAPE
Clippers (regular-season rank) … category … Suns (regular-season rank)
51-31 … Season Record … 50-32
115.6 (12th) … PPG … 117.0 (7th)
113.1 (12th) … Opp. PPG … 111.6 (6th)
48.9 (6th) … FG Pct. … 48.1 (11th)
38.1 (6th) … 3pt Pct. … 36.9 (13th, tied)
82.5 (3rd, tied) … FT Pct. … 75.8 (27th)
43.0 (18th, tied) … Rebounds … 42.9 (19th)
25.6 (21st, tied) … Assists … 25.7 (19th)
7.8 (7th, tied) … Steals … 6.9 (24th, tied)
5.0 (15th, tied) … Blocked Shots … 5.0 (15th, tied)
12.2 (9th, tied) … Turnovers … 12.1 (7th)
STARTING BACKCOURT
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are a daunting backcourt duo, averaging 59.5 points per game combined. Throw in Doncic’s 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game and the Mavericks present a tough assignment for any opponent. The Clippers, meanwhile, have James Harden, who is still a strong passer (8.5 assists apg) and can knock down 3-point shots (8 for 11 against the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 18), and he is making 87.8% of his free throws. But he’s 34 years old and not the MVP player he was five years ago, yet he can still influence a game with his attacking style of play. Terance Mann has grown into his starting role but can be erratic offensively. EDGE: MAVERICKS
STARTING FRONTCOURT
It all comes down to Kawhi Leonard. If the oft-injured forward is healthy and can play any portion of the series, and Paul George is playing at the level he consistently has performed this season, they will be a formidable tandem. If Leonard can’t go because of his knee issue, George has proven he can step up when he is being counted on. Center Ivica Zubac gives them a strong presence inside with his 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. The Mavs beefed up their frontcourt with late-season acquisition P.J. Washington, a 6-foot-7 power forward whose physicality could give the Clippers problems. EDGE: CLIPPERS
BENCHES
Mavs rookie Dereck Lively II, whose rim protection and ability to finish at the rim has made him a key contributor. The rookie center set an NBA record for the highest field goal percentage (74.7%) in NBA history. But he has been sidelined (knee sprain) since March 31 and his status is unclear. The Clippers, meanwhile, have a corps of solid bench players – nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook, Sixth Man of the Year candidate Norman Powell and Daniel Theis – who can disrupt the flow of a game with their quickness, defense and shooting. EDGE: CLIPPERS
COACHES
Tyronn Lue knows how to navigate the playoffs, just not the injuries that have kept him from winning a second NBA title as a coach. He led the Cleveland Cavaliers to three consecutive NBA Finals, winning the 2016 title. In his first season with the Clippers, he guided them to the conference finals despite Leonard getting hurt duing the second round. An injury to Leonard last season derailed the team’s chances to move beyond the first round. … Jason Kidd won an NBA championship as a player with Dallas in 2011 and as Mavs coach, he guided the team to the conference finals in 2022 but missed the playoffs last season. In his first year as a coach, he led the Brooklyn Nets to the Eastern Conference semifinals. EDGE: CLIPPERS
INTANGIBLES
Injuries have played a part in the Clippers’ past three playoff appearances and this season is no different. Leonard’s balky right knee cannot be overlooked. He missed the final eight games of the regular season because of inflammation there and it remains to be seen if he will be available at any point in the first round. Westbrook continues to be an X-factor off the bench with his bursts of energy that can slow an opponent. The Mavs’ Derrick Jones Jr. regularly guards an opponent’s best player because of his length, speed and mobility and ability to make 3-pointers (34.8%). Dallas’ defense is vastly improved this season. And don’t forget the Mavs have Doncic. EDGE: EVEN
SERIES PREDICTION
This will be the third time in the past five seasons that the Clippers and Mavs will meet in the postseason, with the Clippers having won the previous two series. But don’t look for many similarities as both rosters have undergone significant changes. The Clippers added James Harden to three other future Hall of Famers, making them instant contenders. The Mavs have Irving, a scorer like Doncic, and brought in Daniel Gafford, a 6-10 center, to give them depth inside, along with fourth-year forward Washington, both of whom quickly moved into the starting lineup. Little of that matters. The fact is, the outcome of this series will depend on Leonard’s availability. CLIPPERS IN SEVEN
