LOS ANGELES — Jason Kidd didn’t want to discuss the Play-In Tournament before Friday’s game against one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
There were bigger fish to fry directly in front of him.
“[James] Harden and Kawhi [Leonard] cause a big problem,” said the Mavericks coach. “[Tyronn Lue] is one of the best coaches in this league. Right now, we’re not worried about the Play-In. We’re worried about the Clippers.”
The Clippers were winners of eight of their last 10 games and the Mavericks realized why that was the case during their lopsided 114-91 loss on Friday night — the first of their final back-to-back games of the season.
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Two lengthy scoring runs in the first half effectively ended the Mavericks’ chances to climb back to .500. Dallas allowed LA to go on a 20-8 scoring binge over a 6.5-minute span in the first quarter, which was followed by a 23-7 run from the final 36 seconds of the first to the 4:52 mark of the second quarter. The Clippers were led by Leonard, who had 20 points and six rebounds.
The Mavericks were without their starting power forward and center because Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II were unavailable because of injury management. Clippers center Ivica Zubac took advantage of a thin Mavericks frontcourt and recorded a double-double before halftime, finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Here are a few observations from Friday’s loss to the Clippers:
Washington returns
P.J. Washington missed Wednesday’s win over Atlanta because of an illness, but returned in an attempt to help the shorthanded Mavericks compete against the Clippers. Washington served as Dallas’ best rebounder, grabbing 10 boards in just 28 minutes of action on Friday. He had nine points on 4-of-7 shooting. Washington will surely need to increase his offensive production for the Mavericks to have a chance on the back end of their final back-to-back.
Jones returns to LA
The Mavericks could thank the Clippers for releasing Kai Jones on March 1, which allowed Dallas to sign him to a two-way contract two days later. Since his arrival, Jones has filled an aerial void by serving as a lob threat and potent presence inside the paint.
Jones returned to Intuit Dome to face his former team for the first time on Friday. He came off the bench in place of Daniel Gafford, but couldn’t provide that same spark that he displayed in his nine previous games in a Mavericks uniform. He finished with nine points, three rebounds and two assists.
Injury bug bites yet again
Jaden Hardy’s night came to a premature end late in the fourth quarter when he stepped on the foot of Cam Christie and suffered an apparent right ankle sprain. Hardy immediately recognized he couldn’t finish the game and tried to scoot away from the court. He was eventually escorted to the locker room with 2:13 left. If Hardy’s injury is indeed deemed a sprain, it’ll be his fourth of the regular season to the same ankle. The Mavericks are already without point guards Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum and Brandon Williams. Hardy’s exit could place his status in jeopardy for Saturday’s game against the Clippers.
Sacramento creeps up
The Mavericks had a chance to increase their slight edge on the Sacramento Kings for ninth in the Western Conference. Friday’s loss, combined with Sacramento’s win over Charlotte leaves the Mavericks just half a game ahead of the Kings for the opportunity to host a Play-In tournament game at American Airlines Center.
Dallas has an opportunity to regain that ground with Saturday’s quick turnaround at Intuit Dome. A bounce-back win would be a challenge, but it’s a task that could be easier if Davis and Lively return to the lineup.
X/Twitter: @MikeACurtis2
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