LOS ANGELES – Not only did Luka Dončić hurt the Los Angeles Clippers with his offense on Tuesday night during Game 2 of this
best-of-seven first-round playoff series at the Crypto.com Arena. But the Dallas Mavericks’ superstar point guard also did irreparable damage to the Clippers on defense.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Clippers were just 2-of-17 from the field when Dončić was the primary defender. They also missed all 11 of their field goal attempts that were contested by Dončić, which is the second-most field goal tries contested in a playoff game without allowing a successful field goal during the past five years.
In the process, Dončić was locking down Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Paul George. That lockdown defense by Dončić is something that has been brewing for quite some time.
“I think his defense has been great this whole series, understanding that we know that they’re going to put him in every pick-and-roll,” coach Jason Kidd said. “A couple of years ago we saw this . . .and we had to tell to participate (on defense).
“But I think he’s participating at a high level on both ends. We need him on the offensive end, but we also need him on the defensive end, and he’s been able to do that here the first two games.”
For his part, Dončić welcomes the defensive challenges that have come his way, and don’t mind it at all when teams decide to put that extra work on his lofty shoulders.
“I accept it,” said Doncic, who also collected 32 points, six rebounds and nine assists in Game 2. “It gets me going on the defensive end, too.
“If they want to attack me, that’s fine. I think I played good defense (Tuesday). I just got to stay locked in.”
Dončić and the Mavs stayed locked in long enough to win Game 2, 96-93, in a game that took physicality to a whole new level. The series is now all tied at 1-1 going into Game 3 Friday night at 7 at American Airlines Center.
Kidd believes whenever Dončić is locked and loaded on the defensive end of the floor, it invariably rubs off on his teammates.
“We all know when he’s playing at that level, (his teammates) have to step up, too,” Kidd said. “They understand the responsibility of their leader. He’s going to play defense and participate — they have to be able to do the same thing.
“Again, he’s leading, not just on the offensive end, but the defensive end. He’s made some great plays coming up with steals and rebounds, and being able to guard the ball. It’s something that we know that teams are going to put him in the pick-and-roll, and he knows that. And he’s been able to pick his spots and understand we need those stops.”
Here are the three takeaways from the Mavs’ three-point win over the Clippers.
WASHINGTON’S MAIDEN VOYAGE: Mavs forward P.J. Washington is in the playoffs for the first time in his five-year career. But if anyone 
thought Washington would be a bag of nerves during his maiden voyage through the postseason, they thought wrong. Through the first two games of this playoff series against the Clippers, Washington is 9-of-20 from the field — 5-of-11 from three-point range — and also has 29 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and three blocks. That includes the 18 points, six rebounds, two blocks and one steal he contributed in Game 2 when he was 5-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-4 from downtown. Washington scored 10 of his points in Tuesday’s pivotal fourth quarter.
MAVS’ DEFENSE RULED THE DAY: Even on the road and in hostile territory, the Mavs put on one heckuva masterful defensive performance in Game 2 of this series. The Clippers finished the regular season sixth in the NBA in field goal shooting at 48.9 percent. On Tuesday, the Mavs held the Clippers to just 36.8 percent shooting from the field. It’s the lowest shooting percentage from the field for the Clippers this season. The Clippers also were just 8-of-30 from three-point land – one game after making an impressive 50 percent of their shots from downtown (18-of-36).
THE “OTHERS” HAD AN IMPACT: A lot was made about the Mavs’ role players not doing enough in Game 1, which the Clippers won, 109-97. In that game, the Mavs not named Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving contributed 33 points, 21 rebounds and four assists, and were 10-of-36 from the field. In Game 2, the Mavs not named Dončić and Irving collected 41 points, 38 rebounds and five assists. They also were 13-of-32 from the floor, including 5-of-11 from downtown.
X: @DwainPrice
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