DALLAS – Daniel Gafford epitomized Dallas' response to the efforts of LA on Friday night to steal a victory at the American Airlines Center.
Despite lower back soreness, Gafford made the courageous decision to play and showcased his determination by blocking Paul George at the rim in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks' 101-90 win over the Clippers in Game 3. This moment emphasized Dallas' commitment to defending their home court in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,402.
Furthermore, it sent a clear message to LA about the challenges they now face, trailing 2-1 heading into Sunday's Game 4 showdown in Dallas.
In a heated game that saw ejections of Russell Westbrook and PJ Washington, guard Luka Doncic had his lowest scoring performance of the playoffs. However, this was overshadowed by another exceptional second-half performance from Kyrie Irving, contributing to the Mavericks' victory.
Here are five key takeaways from Game 3:
1. Lob City in Big D
During the era of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers were known as "Lob City."
In Game 3, the Mavs took on that nickname.
Dallas electrified the crowd with numerous alley-oop dunks, causing the backboard to shake all night long. The Mavericks successfully executed five alley-oops for dunks in the first half, which could have been six if not for a missed attempt by Derrick Jones Jr.
Rookie Dereck Lively II had four dunks, with assists coming from Doncic, Irving, and Dante Exum. Gafford kickstarted the lob fest with an assist from Irving at the 6:49 mark of the first quarter.
Overall, the Mavs recorded eight lob dunks.
Dallas dominated the paint throughout the game, with Lively, Gafford, Jones, and Washington combining for 32 points in the first half. The Mavericks outscored the Clippers by 18 points in the paint.
For the entire game, Dallas outscored LA in the paint, 52-38.
"Our big men were outstanding," stated Dallas coach Jason Kidd. "In Game 1, we were nonexistent in that area. However, since the second half of Game 1, we have been playing true Mavericks basketball."
In Game 3, Irving followed the same strategy as in previous games, scoring minimally in the first half before shining in the latter stages. He scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half, with 11 points coming in the final frame. Throughout the series, Irving has been consistent in the second half, averaging 20 points on efficient shooting. The Clippers should not underestimate his slow starts, as he has a calming effect on the team and gains control as the game progresses.
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