Darius Garland’s 41 Points Help Clippers Edge Out Mavericks in Overtime
Clippers Surge Past Mavericks in Overtime, Extending Dallas’ Home Losing Streak
DALLAS — In a thrilling overtime clash, Darius Garland clinched his season-high with 41 points, while Kawhi Leonard contributed 34, including a crucial tying bucket late in regulation, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 138-131 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. This defeat marked the Mavericks’ longest home losing streak in 32 years, now at 11 games.
Derrick Jones Jr. emerged as a significant contributor with 15 points, including two three-pointers during the extra period. Garland also showcased his playmaking skills, notching 11 assists, which helped the Clippers snap a four-game losing streak following a previous four-game winning run.
With this victory, the Clippers now find themselves tied with Portland for the eighth spot in the Western Conference, both teams eyeing a place in the upcoming play-in tournament.
The Mavericks’ Naji Marshall led his team with 28 points in what has been a challenging stretch at the 25-year-old American Airlines Center. Earlier in the 1993-94 season, Dallas faced home losing streaks of 19 and 12 games at the now-demolished Reunion Arena.
In a pivotal moment, Marshall’s steal and subsequent assist to P.J. Washington put Dallas ahead 122-120. However, Leonard responded following a timeout, tying the game with just 19 seconds remaining. Cooper Flagg, who scored 18 points, missed a jumper in the final seconds. Washington, who finished with 21 points, narrowly missed a late opportunity, making a jumper just after the buzzer.
Garland also excelled from beyond the arc, setting a season-high with eight three-pointers. His final trey, following Jones’s earlier shot, put the Clippers ahead for good at 125-124 in overtime. Leonard’s subsequent basket and another three from Jones widened the lead to nine points.
Despite nursing a sprained left ankle and managing his playing time over the past few games, Leonard logged 36 minutes and played every minute of overtime. Flagg, the rookie No. 1 pick, contributed significantly with nine rebounds, seven assists, and tied a season-high with four blocks.
