(Basketball news) The Dallas Mavericks avenged their conference final defeat by edging out the Golden State Warriors 116-113. For the Mavs, Luka Doncic scored 41 points for his fifth triple-double while Hardaway scored 22 points as Spencer Dinwiddie scored 14 points before he was ejected for an elbow which hit Jordan Poole in the face for an offensive foul. For the Warriors, Stephen Curry scored 32 points as Jonathan Kuminga had 14 points and 10 rebounds while Draymond Green had his third consecutive double-figure game with 12 points. Dallas ended a four-game losing streak which was subsequently the longest in two seasons under coach Jason Kidd.
\’\’Just because of the excitement, and me not being able to play in the Western Conference finals. Just wanting to go out there and compete, have fun. Playing against the champs.\’\’ Tim Hardway Jr
\’\’Hardaway\’s shot was the key, I thought, down the stretch,\’\’ Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. \’\’We have to expect that teams are going to make shots against us. We\’re going to be circled on every team\’s calendar.\’\’
\’\’Bang, bang situation,\’\’ Curry said. \’\’Dumb play by me to not take the layup. I got a little confused on what the time and score was. Going for the hero shot. I didn\’t think it was a travel to the point where I let the play run out. But who am I to say?\’\’
The Los Angeles Clippers bounced back from defeating the Portland Blazers 118-112. For the Clippers, Norman Powell scored 22 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as Reggie Jackson had 24 points and 12 assists while Ivica Zubac added 12 points and 13 rebounds. For the Blazers, Jerami Grant had 32 points as Justise Winslow collected 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Jusuf Nurkic finished with 13 points and 10 boards. Blazers star guard Damian Lillard has been out with a calf strain since Nov. 19 and has recently started working back on the court, but his return is unclear. With this result the Clippers improved their record to 13-9 and moved 5th in the Western Conference table.
\’\’When you get traded from somewhere you want to play well against them, I thought he was a little too excited in the first half,\’\’ Clippers coach Ty Lue said of Powell. \’\’We\’re always going to stay with our guys and he had 24 points in the second half, really attacking the basket, getting to the paint, getting to the free-throw line. He\’s been playing great for about the last 3-4 weeks.\’\’
\’\’They started going on their run and we just couldn\’t get stops,\’\’ Simons said of the loss. \’\’The momentum flipped and they played with a lot of energy.
\’\’I think he\’s feeling better,\’\’ Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. \’\’He\’s starting to get on the court a little bit.\’\’
Also read: NBA: Lakers are narrowly beaten by the Pacers, Celtics rout the Hornets
