Full coverage: Mavericks take series lead with hotly-contested Game 3 win over Clippers (2024)

The first Mavericks home playoff game since 2022 went pretty ideally for the guys in black and blue.

Dallas took a 2-1 series lead in their first-round battle against the LA Clippers on Friday night, grinding out a 101-90 victory that features some massive plays and heated moments.

See full coverage, stories, photos and more from the Mavericks’ Game 3 win below.

Game stories

— P.J. Washington’s toughness becomes a meme after Mavericks-Clippers Game 3

— 5 thoughts from Mavericks-Clippers Game 3: Dallas dominates at home, takes 2-1 series lead

— Ferocious Mavs brought it all night in physical Game 3 win over Clippers

— How Luka Doncic, then Kyrie Irving, keyed crucial and chippy Game 3 Mavs win over Clippers

— Clippers Kawhi Leonard admits knee ‘didn’t respond’ well after Game 2: ‘time will tell’

— Luka Doncic plays through pain to lead Mavs to 2-1 lead; says knee injury is ‘not good’

— Heat of battle: See photos from Mavericks’ fiery Game 3 win vs. Clippers

— P.J. Washington, Russell Westbrook ejected from Mavericks-Clippers Game 3

— Luka Doncic debuts Luka 3 colorway, matching wrapped Camaro for Mavs-Clippers Game 3

— Clippers’ Russell Westbrook yells expletives at Mavs fans after flagrant foul in Game 3

Game updates

FINAL: Mavericks 101, Clippers 90: Dallas hung on for a crucial Game 3 victory, riding out the big fourth quarter lead they’d built up and even letting Luka Doncic rest a bit at the end of the game.

Mavericks lead the series, 2-1.

Fourth quarter (6:10 remaining): Russell Westbrook’s night is done. As is PJ Washington after a second bout of unpleasantries between the two in a short period of time. Double-technicals the first time, double-technicals the second, and both have been ejected.

Third quarter (1:16 remaining): The Mavericks kept the Clippers at bay for the duration of the third, maintaining a double-digit lead (or somewhere around it) into the final frame.

Kyrie Irving had had a quiet night up until late in the third, hitting his first 3-pointer and following that up with a nifty move for two. He scored eight third-quarter points.

Third quarter (9:08 remaining): The Mavericks carried their big run from the first half over into the second. They lead 59-45 at the 9-minute mark of the third quarter.

End of first half - Mavericks 54, Clippers 41: Strong down-low play for Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively and another 14 points from Doncic lifted the Mavs to a double-digit lead at halftime.

Second quarter (6:58 remaining): Getting a little chippy in Game 3.

The Mavericks lead 34-32 after Clippers guard Russell Westbrook was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for contact to the head of Mavericks’ wing Josh Green.

End of first quarter - Clippers 23, Mavericks 18: An intense first quarter ended in less-than-ideal fashion for the Mavericks as James Harden closed it out by hitting a heave of a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left.

Luka Doncic briefly left the floor and exited for the tunnel after grabbing at his right knee, but he returned to the floor and played the final two offensive possessions for Dallas.

First quarter (6:00 remaining): An encouraging start for Doncic, Daniel Gafford and the Mavericks. They trail 14-12 at the first media timeout, but Gafford has already surpassed his production from the first two games of the series with a set of strong plays down around the basket.

7:18 p.m.: Game 3 is underway between the Mavericks and the Clippers, with the scoring started via a Daniel Gafford putback to give the Mavs an early lead.

Pregame updates

-Starting lineup for the Mavericks has been announced.

-After both were originally listed as game-time decisions for Friday, it appears both Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and Mavs big man Daniel Gafford are available for Game 3.

Pregame reading

- Injury report for Mavericks-Clippers: Kawhi Leonard to play Game 3

- P.J. Washington ‘can’t wait’ for AAC playoff debut with the Dallas Mavericks

- Can Mavericks’ Luka Doncic keep defending at a high level during NBA playoffs?

- The Mavericks started slow in Game 1 vs. the Clippers. Why do they do that?

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.