Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue likes the way his team stuck together Sunday when they blew a 31-point lead
Sunday and nearly lost Game 4 to the Mavericks.
The Clippers led, 55-24, midway through the second quarter, only to see the Mavs put on a furious rally and storm ahead, 105-104, with 2:15 remaining. But the Clippers recovered and hung on to prevail, 116-111, to knot this best-of-seven first-round Western Conference playoff series at 2-2.
Lue said his team kept their composure in hostile territory during the Mavs’ incredible run, and that’s what enabled them to win Game 4.
“They are a great team,” Lue said of the Mavs. “Kyrie (Irving) and Luka (Dončić) are going to make some crazy shots, some tough shots. We needed to make a run, but also we didn’t think we would come 
into the building and be up 31 points either.
“I told our team, ‘Just get the win, however you have to get it.’ In the playoffs it doesn’t matter how you win – if you win by one point or 40 points.”
The victory, aided by 33 points apiece from Paul George and James Harden, helped the Clippers avoid tying the worst collapse in NBA playoff history.
“In those spurts, we still have to play better,” Lue said. “We can’t turn the ball over. We can’t give up straight line drives.
“We have to make quick decisions in the offense like we did when we got up 31. Overall, I am just happy with our team for keeping our composure, staying in the game and making big plays down the stretch to win the game.”
What was puzzling to basketball aficionados in this series is that the Clippers have now won their two games without their best player, Kawhi Leonard, who is dealing with inflammation in his right knee. And in the two games the Mavs have won in the series, Leonard played in both of them.
The Clippers are now 8-7 this season without Leonard, and George said: “I don’t know how many times we’ve got to say it—regardless of who’s playing and who is not playing — I’ve got to be aggressive.
“We feel good with where we’re at, with who we have.”
Lue said last summer’s acquisition of Harden has been critical for his squad, because it gives the Clippers another prime-time player just in case Leonard or George can’t play. That became crucial in Game 4 when George scored 26 points in the first half and Harden contributed 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Asked if he must be more aggressive when Leonard doesn’t play, Harden said: “I’m blessed to be able to change it up and be a facilitator or a scorer. I’ve been doing it throughout the course of my career at an elite level. My mindset coming to this team was just doing whatever it takes to win and get 
to the end goal.
“(With) scoring or facilitating, it goes possession-by-possession and game-by-game. I think like the course of the regular season I had glimpses where I scored the basketball, or I had glimpses where I had double digit assists. So, to answer your question, (for) Game 1 we knew Kawhi was out, and (we) had to be more aggressive. (Sunday), we knew Kawhi would be out, and (we) had to be more aggressive. So, it’s pretty simple for me.”
Because of Sunday’s win, the Clippers have now regained homecourt advantage. Game 5 is Wednesday at 9 p.m. in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena, Game 6 is Friday at 8:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center, and if necessary, Game 7 is Sunday back in LA.
It was a back-breaking step-back three-pointer by George with 1:55 left in Game 4 that gave the Clippers a 107-105 lead. It was a lead the Clippers never relinquished.
“I was just trying to stay in rhythm,” George said. “I got confidence in myself.
“I can knock any shot down and get any shot off. (I’m) just trying to create space and find space, and was able to do so.”
Either way, the Mavs will have to win at least one more game in Los Angeles in order to advance to play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. The Thunder swept their best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans, 4-0.
X: @DwainPrice
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