NBA playoffs: How Clippers, Mavericks match up in first round - Los Angeles Times
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How the Clippers and Mavericks match up for their first-round playoff series

Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic tries to work past Clippers forward Paul George during a game on Aug. 6.
(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
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A look at how the No. 2-seeded Clippers and No. 7 Dallas Mavericks match up for their first-round playoff series:

STARTERS

Clippers / Mavericks

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Forward: Marcus Morris Sr., 6-8; Dorian Finney-Smith, 6-7

Forward: Paul George, 6-8; Tim Hardaway Jr., 6-5

Center: Ivica Zubac, 7-0; Kristaps Porzingis, 7-3

Guard: Patrick Beverley, 6-1; Seth Curry, 6-3

Guard: Kawhi Leonard, 6-7; Luka Doncic, 6-7

The central challenge faced by the Clippers is containing Doncic while not focusing so much on him that it allows the Mavericks’ other shooters to get open. Curry, Finney-Smith, Porzingis and Trey Burke all have made at least 38% of their three-pointers during the restart.

RESERVES

Clippers / Mavericks

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Forward/Center: Montrezl Harrell, 6-7; Maxi Kleber, 6-10

Guard: Lou Williams, 6-1; Trey Burke, 6-0

Guard: Reggie Jackson, 6-3; Delon Wright, 6-5

Forward/Center: JaMychal Green 6-8; Boban Marjanovic, 7-4

Guard: Landry Shamet, 6-4; J.J. Barea, 5-10

Forward: Patrick Patterson, 6-8; Justin Jackson, 6-7

No bench in the NBA scores more than the Clippers’, but with Harrell expected to emerge from quarantine only hours before tipoff, his usual production — 18 points and seven rebounds per game — is hardly guaranteed. Shamet hasn’t played since Aug. 9 because of a strained left foot.

COACHES

Past matchups between these teams have become chess matches between championship coaches Doc Rivers and Rick Carlisle. They are two of the longest-tenured coaches in the NBA, with 1,737 combined victories, but this is only their third time meeting in the playoffs and first since 2005.

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INTANGIBLES

The most worrisome trend for the Mavericks is their struggle to win close games. An offense that set a record for efficiency — 115.9 points per 100 possessions — bogs down to 99.2 during the last five minutes of games that are within five points. In clutch scenarios, Dallas is 17-24 this season and the Clippers are 19-13.

The Clippers had relative success keeping Luka Doncic under control in their three victories over the Dallas Mavericks this season.

Aug. 16, 2020

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