Harden, Zubac lead Clippers to Game 1 victory while Leonard watches
The two-time Finals MVP was absent as the Clippers controlled their way to a series lead.
LOS ANGELES — No Kawhi Leonard? No problem. Afternoon game? No problem.
The LA Clippers came out focused and ready for the task at hand on Sunday afternoon as the 2024 NBA Playoffs kicked off, routing the Dallas Mavericks by a 109-97 score that never fell below double digits over the final 36 minutes.
The Clippers never trailed on Sunday afternoon, a far cry from what normally happens for them in matinee games. In their 10 previous afternoon home games this season, the Clippers had gone 5-5 and trailed by double digits in every single contest.
But no amount of afternoon tomfoolery could prevent the Clippers from an inevitable Game 1 win thanks in large part to the prolific outings of James Harden and Ivica Zubac.
“Just tried to be physical on my post-ups,” Zubac told media after the game when discussing his hot start. Zubac finished with a playoff career-high 20 points to go with 15 rebounds in 33 minutes. Zubac led the Clippers in made baskets.
“Tried to get as close to the basket as possible so I could get some layups and it worked well tonight. Feel like I’m, I feel pretty confident in the post. I feel like I can post up pretty much anyone.”
Zubac was second amongst all players in the league this season in points per possession on post-ups (minimum 75 possessions), with only Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis above him. It’s been an efficient go-to for the Clippers all season, and Sunday’s Game 1 was no different.
“I’m very proud of [Zubac],” Clippers wing Paul George said following the win. “Zu can go dominate every night. I thought he understood his presence and he was awesome. He was awesome. He was a straight bucket when we threw it to him and he was controlling the paint and we’re going to be very good anytime Zu is playing at that level. I just thought he dominated tonight.”
George finished with 22 points in 38 minutes, making eight of his 20 field goal attempts and four of his 12 3s. George added six rebounds and three assists. Seventeen of George’s 22 points came in the second half as the Clippers held off several Dallas flurries.
“They did a great job of just really shutting the floor down,” George said postgame. “I thought they weren’t letting me play. They were pressuring up and then they were cutting the lanes off for me to drive and try to get to the rim, and I just thought they did a really good job of trying to make me uncomfortable, but I’ll be better. I’ll look at the film and see how can I be more efficient and just take what they give me.”
Before Sunday’s Game 1, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said the team needs “James to be James,” and the afternoon affair showed what Harden is capable of when locked in and aggressive from the beginning.
Harden scored 20 of his team-high 28 in the first half, knocking home six 3s throughout the game and dishing out eight dimes. Harden masterfully controlled the tempo, navigated Dallas’ full-court pressure, and found ways to involve everyone on the team. All eight Clippers who played ended up scoring. Three ended with at least 20. Harden was the straw stirring it all.
“I can score with the best of ‘em, you know what I mean?” Harden told reporters in the locker room. “Still can score with the best of ‘em. My role for this team is just generating really good shots and making guys’ jobs easier. And then when my number to score is called, then you score the basketball. Obviously, Kawhi is out, so my playmaking and volume will go up a little bit more, and I took advantage of it.”
Harden’s sixth triple, which came with 3:20 to go, put the Clippers up by 17 and effectively iced the game. It was another in a long line of brilliant Game 1 performances from the bearded superstar. Coming into Sunday’s game, Harden had averaged 27.8 points as a starter in Game 1s.
“Overall, we know James can score at a high level,” Lue said after the game. “Tonight he was really good.”
Dallas struggled offensively in the first half, netting just 30 points through the first two quarters and putting up only eight points in the second quarter. Both figures were the lowest point totals allowed by the Clippers in a playoff game in franchise history.
Luka Doncic did what Luka Doncic does — drop 30-plus points against the Clippers in a postseason game. However, the Clippers moved to 5-4 against Doncic all-time in the postseason when the stellar savant drops at least 30. Doncic ended his night with 33 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists on 11-for-26 shooting.
Kyrie Irving scored 20 of his 31 in a dazzling third-quarter display that saw the guard go a perfect 8-for-8 from the field. Irving also added seven rebounds and four assists.
But the Mavericks could muster just 38.8% shooting on the night and made only 10 of their 33 triples. Dallas did enjoy a healthy free-throw disparity — 33 to 13 — but it wasn’t enough to make the Clippers panic for large portions of this game.
“They’re going to make shots — Luka, Kyrie, they're going to make tough shots,” Zubac said. “But we got to make it harder for them. Got to make them take tough shots and that’s it.”
Amir Coffey got the start in place of Kawhi Leonard on Sunday. The guard ended with six points and three rebounds in 25 minutes.
“I think to be able to throw somebody at Kyrie, so PG with Kawhi being out doesn’t have to worry about chasing Kyrie and Luka around,” Lue said postgame when asked the reasoning for starting Coffey. “He’s one of our better defenders and I thought he did a good job. I thought he turned down a couple of shots he normally takes and we need him to take. But other than that, he was pretty good. He can be better.”
Russell Westbrook added 13 points off the bench while Terance Mann produced 13 points and nine rebounds in 39 minutes. Norman Powell chipped in with five and Mason Plumlee tallied two.
P.J. Washington netted 11 for Dallas and was the only other Mavericks player besides Doncic and Irving to finish in double figures.
Now the attention turns to Tuesday’s Game 2. It’ll be a highly pivotal game as Kawhi Leonard’s rumored return looms over this series.
Leonard had a front-row view of Game 1’s festivities as he sat on the team’s bench and took in what his teammates were able to achieve — a much-needed win and a start on the right foot against a Dallas team that surely doesn’t want to lose to this Clippers team for the third time in five seasons.
If rumors are to be believed, Leonard could return for Game 2. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. Either way, the Clippers have put themselves in a great spot heading into Tuesday.
They can thank Harden and Zubac for it as each one dominated in their own way, but the role players — Terance Mann, Amir Coffey, Russell Westbrook, etc. — aided greatly in the effort, as was needed without Leonard’s services.
“A guy goes out, everyone has to step up,” Lue said.
“It’s not one man, it’s not two men, like, everyone has to step up and be good. And so I thought tonight was a step in the right direction as far as everyone stepping up in Kawhi’s absence. Got a huge win.”
We’ll see if another step in the right direction can be taken in Game 2.