Dallas Mavericks hand Los Angeles Clippers’ third-straight loss
After a disappointing defeat in their previous game, the Dallas Mavericks bounced back and handed the Los Angeles Clippers their third-straight loss this season with a huge 99-83 win on Sunday
31 October at the Staples Center.
The Mavericks started the game on fire, but blew an 11-point lead in the first quarter before ending the period with a 27-23 lead. The Clippers outplayed the Mavericks in the second period,
but Jason Kidd made momentum-changing buzzer-beater from the other end of the court that gave Dallas a 49-47 lead at the half.
"I got the rebound, maybe with two seconds left, and I was going to eat it. But Jason Terry told me to shoot it," said Kidd, who finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
"A lot of times those can be momentum shots for the team that makes it and it can definitely deflate a team if you're on the other end of it. We felt we could build on it, and we went from there."
The Mavericks never looked back and led by as much as 18 points en route to their second win of the season, after a heartbreaking 91-90 loss against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday 29 October.
Caron Butler led the Mavericks in scoring with his 17 while Shawn Marion provided a huge lift in the final period, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.
"Marion is a really key part of our team," coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's embraced his role, which is not easy for a guy that's a four-time All-Star. "Right now, what he's doing, he's become
a real leader on this team. He keeps guys into it and he's been ready to come in and make things happen."
Jason Terry added 15 points and five assists, while Brendan Haywood had 10 points and six rebounds for the Mavericks, who had six players in double-figures.
"We wanted it. We needed to stay active," Marion said. "I think everybody was making extra passes and looking for each other. That's the mark of a great team."
Blake Griffin led the Clippers with his 16 points and added nine rebounds, while German centre Chris Kaman racked up 13 points and 13 rebounds, but their efforts were not enough to bag their
team’s this season and Griffin’s first win in his NBA career.
The Clippers, who have not shot better than 40.5 per cent from the field this season, continued to struggle from the field and shot just 34.1 per cent, including a disappointing 4-for-21
clip from beyond-the-arc.
"We got down offensively and didn't make shots, which affected our defence," said Clippers point guard Baron Davis, who had seven points and six assists in the game. "We just ran into a
team that stuck to their game plan. The team that sticks to their game plan is the team that is going to win."
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