No, Kawhi Leonard, no problem.
The Los Angeles Clippers dropped their five-time All-NBA forward before Sunday’s game and then dismantled the Dallas Mavericks in a 109-97 victory in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs.
With Leonard sidelined, James Harden took the reins in a throwback performance invoking his main MVP. The 34-year-old point guard hit his first four 3-pointers on the 28-point drive to lead a dominant Clippers effort.
But it was Los Angeles’ defense that made the biggest impact. The Clippers limited the Mavericks to 30 points in the first half, holding them to 22.5% shooting from the field. The first half point total was the lowest for the Mavericks since 2019 and the lowest ever in a playoff game.
Dallas finished the first half with 12 consecutive missed field goals and scored just eight points in the second quarter. Harden and Ivica Zubac combined for 32 first-half points to single-handedly outscore the Mavericks. Once again, the Clippers did it without Leonard, a seven-time All-Defensive selection.
Dallas’ offense finally found a rhythm after halftime. Scored 9 points in the first three minutes of the third quarter, surpassing his entire second quarter tally. But the 56-30 halftime deficit was too much to overcome. The Mavericks never mounted a challenge and enter Game 2 with significant concerns about the remainder of the series.
Vintage James Harden walks early with the Clippers
Playing alongside three other NBA talents, Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook, Harden recorded his lowest-scoring regular season (16.6 ppg) since coming off the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011-12. The three-time scoring champion showed this Sunday that he remains more than capable of lighting up the scoreboard.
Harden caught fire early with an 11-point first quarter, which he capped with his third 3-pointer in three attempts to extend the Clippers’ lead 34-22.
A 1-1 floater in traffic capped a personal 9-0 second-quarter run that extended Los Angeles’ lead to 50-28 with 4:49 before halftime. The Mavericks would only score two points on free throws the rest of the half.
Harden then showed the game vision that made him a two-time assist champion with a backdoor pass to Westbrook that pushed the Clippers to 30-9 and extended their lead to 54-29.
Harden finished the first half with 20 points and four assists, shooting 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Zubac had 12 points and 10 rebounds by halftime on his way to a 20-point, 14-rebound effort. He made 10 of 17 shots from the field.
Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić did their best on offense to try to get Dallas back into the game in the third quarter. They combined to score 29 of the Mavericks’ 34 points in the quarter, which exceeded Dallas’ first-half point total.
But the Mavericks were no closer to a comeback thanks to a 31-point quarter from the Clippers that secured an 87-64 lead heading into fourth place. Dallas cut its 29-point deficit to nearly 10 in the final moments of the fourth quarter, but never posed a challenge.
Leonard watched it all from the sideline as he missed his ninth straight game with knee inflammation. He was asked Sunday morning before coach Tyronn Lue announced before the game that he would not play. Leonard’s future status is unclear. But Sunday’s dominant effort eases the pressure to bring him back if the oft-injured All-Star isn’t ready for Tuesday’s Game 2.
