The Dallas Mavericks were ran off the floor for the second straight evening, this time losing even worse than Friday, falling 135-104. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden showed Dallas what superstars do, scoring 29 each in victory. Anthony Davis led a Dallas effort with 27.
With Anthony Davis returning to the line up against the Clippers on Saturday, the Dallas Mavericks stood a chance after getting blown out the night before by the very same Clippers. After tying the game at 8-8, the Clippers went on a massive 15-1 run which finally forced a Jason Kidd timeout. The game briefly felt like a rerun of the Friday night game, but a few Anthony Davis and Kai Jones buckets settled things some for Dallas. The Mavericks trailed the Clippers, 33-21 after one quarter.
The second quarter was dominated early by Kawhi Leonard. Dallas would make a play, Kawhi would snuff out the momentum. The Mavericks seemed unable to eat into the Clippers double-digit lead, though Dallas did chip it down to single digits a time or two. PJ Washington clipped the lead down to seven with seconds remaining only for Jim Harden to hit another floater. The Clippers took a 61-52 lead into the half.
In a mirror of the first half, the Mavericks fought admirably early in the second half. Dallas hung around, with makes from a variety of Mavericks players. But after Washington’s free throws brought Dallas within 10 at the eight-minute mark, the Clippers proceeded to blow the game wide open. The Los Angeles lead grew to 20, then 25, and settled on a 105-82 lead over Dallas heading into the fourth.
It got no better in the final frame for the Mavericks. Anthony Davis kept playing, resulting in the Dallas announcers questioning the decision. The lead kept growing, over 30 at some points, and it was a horrible watch. There’s nothing else to write about this game but I’ll find a reason to: Dallas fell to the Clippers 135-104.
We’re in basketball purgatory
I trend negative. You guys know that after a decade here. But I don’t want to be, I want to watch winning basketball. We had that for a time and we don’t now. Watching these two late games against the Clippers and getting annihilated is truly awful. The Clippers are a particularly bad matchup for these Mavericks, it doesn’t take away how painful this is to watch. I want to say I see how this gets better this season. And the truth is, while I still think they can survive the Play-In and even make the playoffs, it feels BLEAK, and I hate that.
Why is Anthony Davis still out there?!
I will never question the toughness of Anthony Davis. I’ve watched him for a decade and I’ve cracked my fair share of jokes. But one thing is true: he loves basketball and wants to play. I admire him for that. I admire how much he wants to be more than he is. But the fact is, when he doesn’t feel great, he suffers. And against the Clippers, he was in pain and kept playing anyway. It was uncomfortable to watch. The Dallas coaches have to do better and Davis needs to admit when he can’t fight the tide.
Spencer Dinwiddie is awfully important
Earlier in the weekend I tweeted this:
Spencer Dinwiddie is the most important Maverick heading into the final games.
— Kirk Henderson (@KirkSeriousFace) April 4, 2025
He’s the only guard who can do anything and this was before Jaden Hardy’s ankle turned to powder. Spencer shot 1-11 tonight and was a -24 in 33 minutes. While he did deliver 9 assists, his scoring is so important because he’s so awful on defense he has to counter it somehow. He’ll get it back for the Play-In game. But be weary either way. It’s ridiculous he matters at all.
