Dallas – The Los Angeles Clippers forced a crucial seventh game in the first play-off round of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Friday (local time). With a 104: 97 win at the Dallas Mavericks, the Clippers fixed the sixth away win in this duel in a row – a play-off premiere. If this trend continues, Dallas has the best chance of a second-round duel with Utah Jazz, as game seven takes place on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Kawhi Leonard played a large part in the victory. The 29-year-old scored 45 points in front of 18,324 spectators and thus equalized his play-off best. Dallas high performer Luka Doncic did not have his best day, the Slovenian only used two of his nine threes and got a total of 29 points.
Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers have amicably parted ways with their coach Terry Stotts after they were eliminated from the Denver Nuggets. He is leaving the club as the second best coach in the club's history, but has been eliminated four times in the first play-off round in the past five years. In his nine-year tenure, he won a total of 402 games. (APA, June 5, 2021)
Play-off results of the NBA on Thursday (1st round, “best of seven”):
Western Conference:
Dallas Mavericks – Los Angeles Clippers 97: 104 (score 3: 3)
Quarter-final pairings, Eastern Conference:
Philadelphia 76ers – Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets – Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference:
Utah Jazz – Los Angeles Clippers / Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets – Phoenix Suns
