Dallas' Luka Doncic wins series-tying Game 1 thriller over Kawhi Leonard

Mavericks star scores 26 in gritty performance as Clippers' 21-point lead evaporates

Luka Doncic dropped 26 points as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 96-93 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday night.

The Mavericks trailed by 21 points in the first half but rallied to tie the game at 78-78 with 6:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. Doncic scored six points during that stretch, including a pair of free throws with 3:28 left to give Dallas its first lead since the opening minutes of the game.

The Clippers had a chance to tie the game with 10.9 seconds left, but Kawhi Leonard's potential game-tying three-pointer bounced off the rim.

Doncic also had 9 rebounds and 7 assists for the Mavericks, who won their first playoff game since 2016.

Leonard led the Clippers with 26 points, while Paul George added 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Game 2 of the series is set for Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

Conclusion

The Mavericks' Game 1 victory was a major upset, as the Clippers were the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and the Mavericks were the No. 7 seed. The win gives Dallas a 1-0 lead in the series, and it will be interesting to see how the Clippers respond in Game 2.

Here are five takeaways from the Mavericks' series-tying victory:

1. Doncic is a superstar. The 23-year-old Slovenian is one of the best players in the NBA, and he proved it on Saturday night. He led the Mavericks in scoring, rebounding, and assists, and he made several key plays down the stretch.
2. The Mavericks are a tough team. The Mavericks never gave up on Saturday night, even when they were down by 21 points. They showed a lot of grit and determination, and they deserved to win.
3. The Clippers are not invincible. The Clippers are a very good team, but they are not invincible. The Mavericks proved that on Saturday night, and they will be a tough opponent for the rest of the series.
4. The playoffs are unpredictable. The NBA playoffs are always full of surprises, and Saturday night's game was no exception. The Mavericks pulled off a major upset, and they have shown that they are a team to be reckoned with.
5. Anything is possible in the NBA. The Mavericks' victory is a reminder that anything is possible in the NBA. If you play hard and never give up, you can achieve anything.