Clippers destroy Mavs in bounce-back Game 5 for Paul George

After three poor games in a row, Paul George returned to form and helped lead the Clippers to a dominant Game 5 win over the Mavericks

After losing in overtime due to Luka Doncic’s buzzer-beating game winner in Game 4, the Los Angeles Clippers played like they had a lot to prove in Game 5. While the Mavericks, still without an injured Kristaps Porizingis, ran up a small lead in the opening minutes, the Clippers responded with an overwhelming run and ended the first quarter up by 19.

The Mavericks were able to intermittently cut into the Clippers lead, but they were never able to truly make it a game. After three awful games, Paul George bounced back in a major way scoring 35 points. Kawhi Leonard also contributed 32 while Marcus Morris, Landry Shamet, Reggie Jackson, and Montrezl Harrell all scored in double figures for the rampaging Clippers. With Los Angeles up 3-2 in the series, they now have a chance to advance past the pesky Mavericks when they meet on Thursday.

Most Valuable Player: Paul George

In case you haven’t caught the (well-deserved) slander on social media over the last week, George had played quite poorly the last three games shooting just 10-47 for 34 points. However, Tuesday night he finally rebounded, playing more like the All-NBA talent he is at his best. He was the Clippers leading scorer, ending up with 35 points while going 12-of-18 from the field, including 4-of-8 from deep. He looked like the player who finished third in MVP voting last year, and the player the Clippers wanted when they traded for him last summer. This must be a major relief for Clippers fans because if LA are going to seriously challenge for a title this season, or even for a chance to make the Finals, they are going to need a version of George that is closer to tonight’s than the one they had seen in the three games prior.

Coaching Strategy: Trapping Luka Doncic

After Doncic torched the Clippers in game four for 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists — to say nothing of his game-winning shot — Doc Rivers was forced to make some adjustments. The Clippers appeared simply resolute in their refusal to let Doncic beat them again. They were much more aggressive with Doncic, often meeting him at halfcourt and double-teaming him with greater frequency than in the series’ previous games. This strategy worked to cut off driving lanes and making passing to open shooters harder, and it appeared to be quite effective. Doncic turned the ball over five times and shot just 6-of-17 from the field. The Clippers defense, combined with Doncic’s ankle injury which appeared to be bothering him quite a bit, kept him from taking over the game again and helped the Clippers win a pivotal Game 5.

Turning point: Early run by the Clippers

A few minutes into the game, the Mavericks were up 16-9. The next time they scored, it would be to cut the lead to ten, and that was the closest the game got for the rest of the evening. While the Clippers gave up a large lead in Game 4, it would not happen again Tuesday night. They ended the first quarter on a 32-6 run, including one burst where they scored 19 consecutive points.

The Clippers simply could not miss and Leonard led the way, finishing the opening quarter with 15 points. The Mavericks did not have it in them to stage such a massive comeback two games in a row so this game was practically over before halftime. It may have been anticlimactic for viewers, but it was a great showing by the Clippers, a team eager to prove they still deserve to be seen as a contender.