The Dallas Mavericks are on the verge of advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals following a commanding Game 5 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, 123-93, to take a 3-2 series lead on Wednesday, May 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
One significant narrative of the game was the shooting difficulties the Clippers' stars faced, ultimately contributing to the Mavericks' dominant road victory.
Mavericks star Kyrie Irving shared his insights on the team's stellar defensive performance, particularly his role in containing one of the Clippers' primary offensive forces, James Harden.
"Defense is a part of the game of basketball. If you study the game enough, you understand that some of the greatest players in history have done it on both ends of the floor. I'm just trying to get my name up with those guys," the 32-year-old said.
Aside from his defensive contributions, Irving also impacted the offensive end, tallying 14 points, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
James Harden, Clippers stars, struggle in Game 5
After shouldering a considerable load in the absence of star Kawhi Leonard in previous games, Harden was virtually nonexistent in Game 5.
The 34-year-old scored only seven points while shooting 2-of-12 from the field. He also contributed four rebounds and seven assists.
Notably, Clippers stars Paul George and Russell Westbrook also encountered difficulties, with the trio collectively shooting 8-of-36 from the field.
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