Daniel Gafford had a nice bounce-back outing in Game 3

Daniel Gafford was on a mission to prove that he’s way better than the performances he turned in against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first two games of this best-of-seven first-round playoff series.

In the first two games in LA, Gafford had cumulative totals of just three points, one rebound, one blocked shot and was 1-of-7 from the field. But during Friday’s 101-90 victory over the Clippers in Game 3 at American Airlines Center, a much more aggressive Gafford had six points, three rebounds and was 3-of-4 from the field – in the game’s first six minutes.

“I thought he was great,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Bounce back from being able to offensive rebound and finish, and then defensively at the rim I thought he was really good for us.

“He protected the paint. Just understanding he played a really good game and he helped our defense at a high level.”

And helping the Mavs’ defense at a high level was Gafford’s intentions after he struggled with back and foul issues in Games 1 and 2.

“In all honesty, I just felt that I could do a lot better when it came to it,” Gafford said. “In Game 1, I got hit in the mouth. In Game 2, my back almost gave out on me and I was really like, “Either we’re going to sit this one out and let the back rest, or are we going to get the back to where it feels like it’s at 100 percent and go out and just have a good.’

“(I wanted to) come out, for sure, with the energy that I wanted to come out with was just throwing the first punch. Just trying to throw that first punch to set the tone was like the main message that I wanted to just get across with the team, and just come out and have fun with the crowd, too.”

Indeed, it was as if Gafford was playing with a chip on his shoulders, and as if he thought his reputation for being a paint protector and a robo-rebounder was at stake. He set a very nice tone for the Mavs early on, and they followed his lead.

“That’s what we need every night,” forward Derrick Jones Jr. said. “We need that energy from the get-go. That energy that he came out with today is big for us.

“Whatever I can do to help him bring that every night, I will do it. We want him to keep it going and pushing it, be great and be better every day.”

Gafford finished Game 3 with eight points, four rebounds, a game-high three blocks and was 4-of-5 from the field in 26 minutes. And he was part of a Mavs’ contingent that collected eight lob dunks, including four by rookie Derick Lively II.

Guard Josh Green said if Gafford plays with that type of intensity every game, “It rubs off on the whole team. I think it’s a very important piece for us to win.

“I think that’s the competitiveness that everyone kind of has on our team. It’s a team battle, and he did an amazing job bouncing back and his energy was really contagious.”

In addition to Gafford bullying himself around the rim, Jones – and the fans – got a kick out of Gafford skying high and blocking a dunk attempt at the rim early in the fourth quarter by Paul George.

“That’s the great Daniel Gafford that showed up,” Jones said. “If he brings that every night, that’s who we need every night.”

KIDD ON PROTECTING THE RIM: Coach Jason Kidd discussed the importance of protecting the rim and making things as difficult as possible for the Clippers.

“They’ve got a lot of talented players who can score at the rim, in the paint, behind the three-point line, so we’re just trying to be as physical as possible and make it tough,” Kidd said. “You tip your hat if they make it and then you try to make them work on the other end.

“Again, we’re zeroing in on trying to protect the rim and limit those guys to one shot, because if you give them two opportunities it can be an easy put-back or it’s going to be a three. Just understanding how important it is this time of the year to limit those guys to one shot and contest as many shots as we can.”

LUE PRAISES DEFENSE BY LUKA: Before Game 3, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue gave kudos to Mavs point guard Luka Dončić for the excellent defensive work he did in Game 2.

“He’s a great defender,” Lue said. “He takes the challenge, guards one-on-one. He’s doing a good job.

“When your best player takes that challenge, you’re a whole different team.”

In Game 2, the Clippers were just 2-of-17 from the field when they were guarded by Dončić.

“He’s not known for his defense,” Lue said. “But stepping up and taking that challenge and wanting to play guys one-on-one and fanning the bench off and telling them, ‘No, I got him, and I want to play him one-on-one,’ that means a lot. So, he’s doing a good job of guarding our guys.”

TROPHIES HANDED OUT: At midcourt before the game, Kyrie Irving received the trophy for the Mavs winning the Southwest Division title this season, Luka Dončić received a trophy for winning the NBA scoring title, and Daniel Gafford received a trophy for leading the league in scoring this season.

It’s the fifth division title for the Mavs in franchise history and the first time they had a player lead the NBA in scoring and a player lead the league in field goal shooting. Dončić scored a league-high 33.9 points per game and Gafford shot an NBA-high 78 percent from the field.

BRIEFLY: Mavs guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (right ankle sprain) and forward Olivier Maxence-Prosper (left ankle sprain) sat out Game 3 . . . The Dunking Devils – a group of dunkers from Slovenia – the birthplace of Luka Dončić – performed at halftime . . . In the first half of Game 3 the Mavs had 10 dunks, with five of them being lob dunks . . . On the play of centers Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, forward Derreck Jones Jr. said: “When Gaff is in the game, he brings the energy. We tell (Lively) when he gets in the game don’t let anything change, bring that same energy and do whatever you’ve got to do to make sure you’re holding that paint down, and just know that all us other players, we got your back on everything. I’m happy for them. They got it going early and we got to keep it going.” . . . Forward Josh Green played 25 minutes and finished with eight points and five rebounds and was 3-of-5 from the field. “Josh was great,” coach Jason Kidd said. “He stepped up. We had (Tim Hardaway Jr.) down and he stepped in and played his role and did his job tonight and we’re going to need him to do that Sunday.”

X: @DwainPrice