After a rusty win against the San Antonio Spurs, the LA Clippers have won two in a row as they took down the Dallas Mavericks. With the way the standings are in the Western Conference, this game was a must-win for the Clippers. As a result, they now hold the sixth spot and are only two games back from the fourth seed.
Furthermore, franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard handled business once again with another 30-point performance. In addition, he dropped nine rebounds and three assists through 39 minutes of action. This type of volume, to go along with the way Leonard has been dominating, shows that the Clippers have a solid chance to win it all if they take advantage of the trade deadline.
Leonard’s co-star, Paul George, also had an exceptional outing: he posted 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists. If these two remain healthy, it is evident the LA Clippers will be challenging to beat.
Despite all of the bright spots, the point guard play for the Clippers is still non-existent. Without the right facilitator, head coach Tyronn Lue and his squad will be limited in the number of games they can win. The front office must begin making phone calls, as this year is the make-or-break season for LA.
The LA Clippers played flawlessly on both ends of the floor.
Statistically, this game was one of the best of the season for the LA Clippers. Not only did they shoot 45.5% from the field, 42.9% from three, and 96.8% from the line, but they only turned the ball over ten times. What’s more, is that the Clippers out-rebounded the Mavericks by eight and added five more assists.
Much of this was due to the showing from the slashing wing, Norman Powell. Though Leonard and George have been thriving, Powell has comfortably taken the role as the team’s third option. His duties fit him perfectly, as he had another outstanding performance with 19 points and four rebounds through 30 minutes.
Norman Powell has really found his offense the last few games, averaging 25 points on 63.2% FG and 68.4% 3PT.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 22, 2023
He's made 13 of his 19 threes over the last 3 games.
With this win in the books, it is safe to say that the Clippers are a few minor changes away from competing for the first seed. Lue’s experimenting has ended as he utilizes the right players at the right time while emphasizing a sense of urgency on the defensive end. This was a big part of why LA was able to defeat Dallas by 14 points.
That said, the Clippers take their winning streak back to LA as they face a never-ending rivalry with the Lakers. With time running out, this is another prominent match-up for Lue and his squad. After a rhythm is found defensively, the superstar duo and a few others will be able to move the offense.