In the playoff opener against the Clippers, the Mavericks struggled despite a strong performance from Luka Doncic.

Luka scored 33 points. Kyrie Irving added 31 points, but Dallas lacked support from the rest of the team.

The Clippers dominated, leading by as much as 29 points. Zubac’s strong play, scoring 20 points with 15 rebounds, was pivotal for the Clippers. Despite trailing by 22, the Mavericks closed the gap to 14 but ultimately fell short.

Harden and George led the Clippers, combining for 50 points. With Kawhi Leonard sidelined, the Clippers relied on their depth, with five players scoring in double figures.The Clippers’ defense stifled the Mavericks, holding them to 9 of 40 shooting in the first half. Dallas faces an uphill bаttle in Game 2 as they seek to bounce back from a disappointing opener.