LOS ANGELES -- The Mavericks’ Sunday afternoon matchup with the Clippers was a clash of star players, just as many expected after the last two playoff summers.
But the leaders this time weren’t the ones who commanded the most attention then.
In the absences of Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard, the final minutes of the Mavericks’ 97-91 loss Sunday became a Kristaps Porzingis-Paul George duel.
The duo traded baskets in the final three minutes as Porzingis’ powered the Mavericks’ late comeback attempt by three times cutting Los Angeles’ lead to 3. But just as the Clippers prevailed in each first-round series since August 2020, George finished with the upper hand again.
Despite 25 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks from Porzingis, the Mavericks have lost three consecutive games -- all sans-Doncic -- for the first time this season.
The matchup lost significant starpower when the team announced about a half-hour before tip that Doncic would join fellow All-Star Kawhi Leonard, who’s out indefinitely after offseason knee surgery, on the inactive list.
Doncic warmed up on the Staples Center court as the first fans filed in for the playoff rematch.
He worked through his normal routine with his usual trio of assistants -- Igor Kokoskov, Peter Patton and Kristi Toliver -- dribbling around mock picks, taking floaters from the high post off his left leg and hitting several 3-point shots.
He also added some extra dribbling exercises, perhaps to test his mobility and quickness across the court.
But soon after, the Mavericks announced their game-time decision: Doncic would sit again.
Rather than playing in the West Coast matinee, which meant primetime viewing for his fans in Slovenia and across Europe, Doncic watched from the end of the Mavericks’ bench in a black T-shirt and pants.
From there, he saw Porzingis try to will the team out of a second-half slump.
Trailing by as many as 12 points with 4:29 remaining, the Mavericks started to feed the ball to Porzingis in the post. He responded by making three baskets in the last 2:49 to each time cut the Clippers’ lead to three points.
Jalen Brunson also scored nine of his 20 points in the final period.
But George, who finished with 29 points, four rebounds and six assists, often had an answer on the other end.
His 15-foot jumper with 1:03 remaining extended the Clippers’ lead to 5, and the Mavericks never pulled closer.
Dallas shot 6 of 30 (20%) from three.
Though Maxi Kleber returned to contribute five points, four rebounds and a block in 20 minutes, boosting the second unit after missing nine games with a left oblique strain, the Mavericks’ point depth took another hit when Frank Ntilikina didn’t play the second half because of a right calf injury.
Most players were plenty familiar with the matchup after 13 playoff games between the franchises since August 2020 and other noteworthy regular-season clashes, including the Mavericks’ historic 51-point win two days before Christmas last December.
Not Kidd, though.
The Mavericks’ Hall of Fame point guard-turned-head coach didn’t have time to watch the first-round series against the Clippers while working as an assistant with the Lakers, who were matched up against the Suns, late last Spring.
But Kidd watched film of each game, including the Mavericks’ Game 7 loss, after taking over in Dallas this summer.
He noticed the swings, especially after Dallas blew a 19-point in Game 3 after taking the first two in Los Angeles. And watched how Dallas -- despite a combined 72 points, 25 assists and 15 rebounds from Doncic -- lost a decisive Game 6 at home and then Game 7 in Staples Center.
“Having the opportunity to try to take control of something and you let it slide, you can learn from that,” Kidd said. “Our group has learned from that and will continue to learn. If you want to be on the upper end of the Western Conference, you’re going to have to keep your composure. You’re going to have to execute late.”
But much like the first two games against the Suns during this sans-Doncic road trip, the Mavericks didn’t maintain their consistency and advantage, again.
Add Sunday’s second-half slump to the list of lessons Kidd will preach before Tuesday’s rematch in Los Angeles.
