In a recreation that grew to become testy within the fourth quarter, the well being of Kawhi Leonard was paramount for the Clippers.
Leonard was listed as questionable with proper knee irritation for Recreation 3, and although he began Friday evening, he not often seemed sharp throughout the Clippers’ 101-90 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at American Airways Middle.
Leonard, who was out and in of the sport, departed for the ultimate time with 4:09 left and the Clippers down by 15 factors.
He performed 25 minutes and produced 9 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 turnovers in a recreation the Clippers as soon as trailed by 21 factors within the fourth quarter.
Paul George, who was in foul bother all recreation, had simply seven factors, going three for 11 from the sector, one for six from three-point vary.
The sport grew tense within the fourth quarter when Russell Westbrook, who missed all seven of his photographs and all 4 of his three-pointers to complete with one level, acquired into it with Luka Doncic, the 2 of them pushing one another. Westbrook and P.J. Washington then shoved one another. Finally, Westbrook and Washington, who acquired right into a trash-talking state of affairs with Terance Mann, got technical fouls and ejected .
The Mavericks now have a 2-1 lead within the best-of-seven sequence behind 22 factors from Doncic and 21 from Kyrie Irving. Recreation 4 is Sunday in Dallas.
Leonard performed simply 9:57 within the first half, sitting for lengthy stretches, not coming into the sport within the quarter when the Clippers performed small and didn’t have George out there due to foul bother.
Leonard didn’t look fluid on the courtroom, his actions typically torpid.
He got here out of the sport for the primary time with six minutes left within the first quarter and didn’t return till there was 6:58 left within the second quarter.
With 3:01 left within the first half, Leonard was pulled once more and didn’t return.
He had three factors, 4 rebounds and two turnovers earlier than heading to the locker room for the intermission.
Leonard had missed the ultimate eight regular-season video games and Recreation 1 of the playoffs with irritation in his proper knee.
However halfway by the third quarter, there was an indication from Leonard that he was feeling higher.
He drove baseline for a dunk after which rose up for a lob go from George for a dunk.
George picked up two fouls within the first quarter and his third one with 6:58 left within the second, forcing him to the bench once more, leaving the Clippers with out certainly one of their prime offensive weapons once more. He picked up his fourth with 8:57 left within the third tying to defend Doncic.
George picked up his fifth foul 28 seconds into the fourth quarter.
