The Dallas Mavericks will attempt to eliminate the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. in American Airlines Center.
Dallas is coming off a dominant 123-93 win in Game 5 in Los Angeles that gave the team a 3-2 lead and a chance to win the series on Friday night.
This 30-point win was also the largest playoff loss in the Clippers’ franchise history, with Mavericks guard Luka Doncic staying mindful that “it doesn’t matter if you win by one or you win by 50” in the playoffs.
“It’s still a good win. But the job is not done. We need to win one more,” he added after the game, according to The NBA.
The Mavericks have leaned on the team’s two stars through the first five games, as Doncic and guard Kyrie Irving have each played significant roles in helping the team gain a lead in the series.
Doncic has averaged an incredible 30.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 8.8 assists through the first five games, while Irving has put up an average of 25.8 points per game while shooting 50% from the field and 42.8% from the three-point line.
Dallas has also benefitted from key contributions by forward PJ Washington, who has been one of the most effective defenders on the team.
Washington’s defense has helped the Mavericks hold Los Angeles to just 43.8% shooting from the field and 31.8% from the three-point line while averaging just 100.2 points per game, which is 15.4 points less than the Clippers averaged during the regular season.
Although the Mavericks will not be missing any key starters in Game 6, guard Tim Hardaway Jr. will be out for the game due to an ankle injury suffered during Game 2.
Hardaway Jr. was reportedly working toward a return in Game 5 but suffered a setback during a scrimmage, as reported by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Los Angeles is set to play Game 6 without former Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, who has been battling a knee injury sustained during the regular season and will now miss his fourth game of the series.
Guard Terance Mann has also been dealing with a contusion on his leg and is listed as day-to-day, but he was seen at the shootaround on Friday morning and is expected to be active for the game.
A Mavericks win in Game 6 would move them into the second round of the NBA Playoffs, where they would face the first-seed Oklahoma City Thunder, who defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in just four games.