NBA Playoffs Round 1, Game 5: Clippers Suffer Crushing 93-123 Defeat to Mavericks
It’s hard to believe that in this crucial battle at Tianwang Mountain, two evenly matched teams would have such a huge point differential. Moreover, this could potentially be the Clippers’ last game at their home court, Crypto Arena. The 2023-24 season marks the Clippers’ final season at this venue, as they will move to a new arena after the season, no longer sharing a stadium with the Lakers.
If they lose the next game, the Clippers will be eliminated, making today their last game at Crypto Arena. However, the joy of relocation did not propel the Clippers to victory in the Tianwang Mountain showdown. Instead, the performances of core players like Harden, George, and Westbrook were dismal, putting the Clippers on the back foot from the first quarter. The defensive strategy employed by the Clippers at the start of the game was still to pressure Irving and Doncic. Every defensive possession was fiercely contested, yet Doncic, despite being hampered by a cold and a knee injury, proved unstoppable. Even with George and Mann taking turns to contain him, Doncic still cleverly evaded their efforts. He scored 14 points and 3 assists in the third quarter alone, leading his team to overwhelm the Clippers. Throughout the game, Doncic played 39 minutes, shot 14 for 26, and scored 35 points, along with 7 rebounds, 10 assists, and 1 steal.
Moreover, Doncic not only shouldered the offensive burden but also chose to defend George and Harden one-on-one, albeit with varying success. However, as the team’s core, displaying such an attitude is indeed commendable. With the assistance of top-notch playmaker Irving, the Clippers surrendered with nearly 7 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, as Tyronn Lue sent in substitutes, leaving the starting players on the bench, resignedly awaiting the final buzzer.
At the start of this season, the Clippers were indeed highly anticipated, especially after several dismal seasons, and with the acquisition of Harden during the offseason, they were seen as making a desperate attempt, with their salary cap almost maxed out. However, if they fail to achieve results in this season’s playoffs, there’s a unanimous belief that the Clippers will face the risk of dissolution. As of now, George has not reached an agreement with the Clippers on a contract extension, and the same goes for Harden, who will become a free agent in the offseason. The only player who has signed an extension with the Clippers is Leonard, but the team’s top star has only played two games since the start of the playoffs. The outcome of this series against the Mavericks will determine the Clippers’ fate this season. Without Leonard’s timely return, the Clippers must rely on Harden and George to step up if they want to continue their playoff journey this season. In the previous game, they won because Harden shot 12 for 17 and George shot 11 for 19, combining for 66 points and 15 assists.
However, in the crucial Tianwang Mountain battle, Harden played 33 minutes and shot 2 for 12, while George played 33 minutes and shot 4 for 13, with both of them combining for only 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists. With their star players performing like this, winning the game was virtually impossible for the team.
Moreover, facing the Mavericks with players like Doncic and Irving only adds to the challenge. The time left for the Clippers is truly running out…