The LA Clippers mounted one of the most impressive last-minute comebacks of the season on Tuesday night but the Dallas Mavericks proved too tough in the end.
The game was relatively close throughout, with both sides enjoying a double-digit lead at one point until the Mavericks pulled away late. With Luka Doncic back in the lineup, Dallas got revenge for their loss on Sunday, holding the Clippers without a field goal in the overtime period to come out on top 112-104.
There were two Clippers who stood out in the matchup, and they’re the two that have been the most consistent all season. Paul George‘s buzzer-beating 3-pointer capped off a 26-point night, one in which he played just over 48 minutes.
But his performance was eclipsed by another Clipper having a career year.
LA Clippers Stud: Reggie Jackson
While much of the team was struggling to find their shot all night, Reggie Jackson had his best game of the season, putting up a line of 31 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals in 42 minutes.
Jackson buried 3-of-8 shots from beyond the arc and shot 12-for-23, establishing a season-high for field goal attempts on a night the Clippers badly needed some offense. The 6-2 guard even led all players in rebounds, which is a testament to just how much he was doing on the court.
REG-GIE! REG-GIE!
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 24, 2021
📺 @BallySportWest | @Reggie_Jackson pic.twitter.com/oQnLqVHHEC
With the many injuries LA has had to deal with so far, Reggie establishing himself as a reliable second option has been a much-needed boost as they look to stay competitive in the Western Conference.
LA Clippers Dud: Eric Bledsoe
The Clippers are going to need a little bit more out of Eric Bledsoe to justify the minutes he’s getting. On Tuesday, he played 24 minutes and contributed just two points, four boards, an assist, and a steal. He had more personal fouls (six) than points (four) in the two-game series against the Mavericks, and that’s far from ideal.
Bledsoe has struggled to make a real impact in four straight games and disappeared into the background more than ever in the last two games.
What has affected Bledsoe’s offensive output the most has been his 3-point shooting. He’s made just 13 of his 58 attempts this season for an abysmal 22.4% mark, which could be why he’s significantly reduced how often he shoots from deep (5.0 attempts last season to 3.2).
Bledsoe’s defense will always be there, but the Clippers need him to be much more of a presence on the other side of the ball to avoid dropping more games they should be winning.