All to play for in the series between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks – also thanks to Maxi Kleber. The Minnesota Timberwolves are relentless, the Milwaukee Bucks are missing their central figure. The NBA on Wednesday morning
The two teams were already close in the regular season. And everything is still wide open in their playoff series in the conference quarter-finals. With a 96:93 win at the Los Angeles Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks drew 1:1 after their opening defeat and can now play twice at home. Four wins are needed to progress.
The Texans stole game two, although Kawhi Leonard returned to the floor of the Crypto.com Arena for the Clippers. The game swung back and forth, and when the Californians seemed to have turned the tide in their favor, the Mavs tightened the reins and gave the duel the decisive twist with a 17:3 run.
“I think we just played with the right body language and the right energy today,” Maxi Kleber, one of two Germans in this series, told the DPA. The difference to last season is that we simply stay together as a team in these situations. We know it’s long games, it’s a series, so we always have to believe as a team. “
Team spirit and individual class
Team spirit before individual class? Or team spirit and individual class? In any case, the superstars performed. Luka Doncic once again put together a great set of statistics, including five threes that led to 32 points, six rebounds and nine assists in 46 minutes of action for the Slovenian playmaker. At his side: Kyrie Irving (23 points, four threes). New signing P.J. Washington was just as impressive (18 points) as the defensively strong Kleber (28 minutes, six rebounds), who scored two important threes up front.
“It will probably be a defensive battle and then it really depends on who makes the open shots,” said Kleber about the outcome of this duel. For the Clippers, James Harden – with just two out of ten from downtown – and Paul George scored 22 points each, while Leonard had 15 points. As in the first match-up, Daniel Theis was not brought on
Siakam at top level – McDaniels puts Suns in the shade
What else was going on on Wednesday night? Like the Mavs, the Indiana Pacers put down an exclamation marker and drew level at 1-1 with a convincing 125-108 win at the Milwaukee Bucks. Pascal Siakam, who was drafted from Toronto, shone in particular with 37 points, eleven rebounds and six assists in front of two home games. Damian Lillard was once again the most successful player for the Bucks with 34 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo was sorely missed. “We have to be the hungry team, the team that wants to show something,” said Siakam, who had already scored 36 points in game one. It is not yet clear when the injured Antetokounmpo will be able to help Lillard & Co. get back on track.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves seem to be clearly on course after a 105:93 win over the Phoenix Suns and the resulting 2:0 lead. Relentless in defense in particular (Jaden McDaniels!), the T-Wolves gave the Suns and their stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker hardly any breathing space. Booker scored 20 points, Durant 18. McDaniels was not only merciless under his own basket, he also stood out offensively from the home side’s starting five (25 points), which all finished in double digits.