The San Antonio Spurs were looking to close out the series against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 of their Western Conference showdown. Down three with under a minute to play, Kawhi Leonard hit a clutch three-pointer, and the Spurs would go on to force a Game 7. Leonard would finish the game with an astounding 45 points, including the game-winning shot.
The San Antonio-clutching shot may have been the headline, but it was a sparkling pass by none other than Kawhi Leonard that set up the game-winner for LA Clippers in Game 6 of their first round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.
Kawhi Leonard delivered in clutch as the LA Clippers forced Game 7 against the Dallas Mavericks, sending the series back to LA for the decisive final contest. The highlight of the evening came when Leonard blocked a Dirk Nowitzki shot at the rim and then calmly sank a game-tying 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining. The Clippers would go on to win 124-113, forcing a Game 7 on Sunday night.. Read more about clippers vs mavericks and let us know what you think.Kawhi Leonard treated Friday night as his seventh game, and it showed: He tried to guard Luka Doncic and scored 45 points – a playoff record for his career. With the season and the Los Angeles Clippers’ title hopes at stake, Leonard played perhaps his best game as a Clipper player, helping Los Angeles to a 104-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 before a crowd of 18,234 at American Airlines Center for their third win in a row. It’s all about the mindset, Leonard said. You certainly don’t want to go home. 
Aside from last season’s games, this is the first time in NBA playoffs history that a team has won the first six games of a series on the road, according to ESPN Stats & Information. In one of his best playoff appearances, Leonard made 18 of 25 shots and scored 12 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter. He scored eight consecutive points in just over a minute late in the game to bring the game to seven. I mean, he destroyed us, Doncic said. That’s what it is. He played a great game. And that’s exactly what it does. With the elimination looming, the Clippers felt the pressure of their suspended season and the possibility of a second consecutive postseason disappointment. But unlike last year’s embarrassing 3-1 loss against the Denver Nuggets in the second round, the Clippers played with the toughness and fighting spirit needed to win their second consecutive game seven. It was a Game 7 for Game 7 for us, said Paul George, who scored 20 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out six assists. Leonard set the tone in the opening seconds. Clippers coach Ty Lue said they had discussed putting Leonard ahead of Doncic and that his star attacker wanted a big assignment. Doncic, who averaged 35 points in the series, finished with 29 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, but he made just 11 of 24 shots and 2 of 9 from mid-range, as the Clippers pinned him at times and defenders followed him more than they switched. Leonard scored just 11 points and every Mavericks player he defended shot 4-for-13. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Doncic made just 2 of 6 shots when he was defended by Leonard. He did his best to stop, which led to problems on the other side, George said. You saw one of the best, if not the best two-way player at his best. Dallas led 82-79 with 9:06 to go, but Leonard turned the tide. With the Clippers holding a two-point lead, Leonard hit a three-yard jumper. Leonard grabbed the rebound and shot a three-pointer from 27 yards out. He then rounded out an 8-2 run with a put-back shot that gave the Clippers a 98-90 lead with 1:41 remaining in the game. Leonard converted all five of his shots in the fourth quarter, becoming the first player to convert five or more shots in the final quarter while missing since Leonard’s former teammate Tim Duncan did so against the Mavericks in 2009. The fact that he had the energy in the offense to make those shots at the end, most of which were very difficult, is something great, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. Carlisle added: We did everything we could in this series, and in Game 7 we have to be ready to give it our all. This is exactly the kind of performance the Clippers were counting on when they signed Leonard, a two-time Finals MVP and elite two-way defender, and traded George to get Leonard in the summer of 2019. But the work is not yet finished. Leonard and the Clippers have more work to do in Game 7, which will be another exciting game. This time, the Clippers hope to erase the memories of last year. It’s just something I had when I was younger – always wanting to win the game, trying to show my will on the field, Leonard said of his mentality in this game, based on his previous playoff experiences. And my teammates had the same mentality. So that’s what I try to teach them, that we keep fighting, that we don’t give up, and that we never know what might happen. You just have to believe in it and play hard, have fun. That’s all you can do.The LA Clippers must win a Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the NBA Finals.. Read more about paul george and let us know what you think.
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