Mavs Win First Playoff Game with Star Duo

Irving continues to be magnificent, going 4-8 from 3-point range.

It was his second straight game shooting at least 50 percent from 3. Irving did most of his damage in the second-half, scoring 16 points in the final two quarters. An elite shot-creator with a silky touch, Irving continues to lift the Mavs when they need it most. That’s exactly what Dallas wanted from the former No. 1 pick when they traded for him last season.

Playoff Defense

While their scoring will always get the most attention, in Game 2, Doncic and Irving’s defense was arguably the biggest story.

When Doncic was the primary defender, the Clippers shot 2-17 from the field.

Using his large frame at 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, Doncic got down into his defensive stance, moved his feet and forced L.A. to make tough shots over him. Frankly, the Clippers didn’t really test his lateral movement, opting for short area crossovers to try and create space. However, he routinely got a hand up to contest their shots, putting forth more effort than usual at that end. Irving had a team-high three steals, with all three coming in the second half.

After the game, Doncic spoke about his defensive impact in Game 2, saying “it’s playoffs. It’s different… I take pride in my defense too” (h/t The Smoking Cuban’s Noah Weber).

Irving was all smiles after the game.

Dapper in a southwestern suit, Irving says:

“It’s a physical game both ways and we know what to expect for the rest of the series. Going against some potential Hall of Famers that play the game at a high level and they know personnel very well. So we gotta give ‘em respect but we also gotta go at ‘em and that’s a competitor’s dream.”

Game 3 is scheduled for Friday, Apr. 26.