KAWHI Leonard scored 28 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Los Angeles Clippers used a balanced attack to defeat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 126-111 on Sunday (Monday in Manila) in Game 7 of their NBA first-round playoff series.
Marcus Morris Sr. scored 23 points and Paul George added 22 points with 10 assists as the fourth-seeded Clippers advanced to the second round to face the Utah Jazz. Los Angeles became the sixth team in NBA history to lose the first two games of a series at home and still advance.
The game was the first time in the series the home team came out with the victory. It was the first time in NBA history the road team won the first six games of a postseason series.
Luka Doncic scored 46 points with 14 assists in his first career Game 7 of a playoff series but was unable to carry the Mavericks across the finish line. Dallas lost to the Clippers in the first round for the second consecutive season.
Dorian Finney-Smith scored 18 points with 10 rebounds and Kristaps Porzingis added 16 points with 11 rebounds for the Mavericks, who had two chances to close out the series.
They lost at home 104-97 in Game 6.
Trailing 81-76 with 6:53 remaining in the third quarter, the Clippers went on a 21-2 run to take a 97-83 lead, pushing the advantage to double digits for the first time in the game.
They closed out the third quarter on an overall 24-4 run to take a 100-85 advantage.
In the other game, Trae Young had 35 points and 10 assists, and the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks upset the top-seeded and host Philadelphia 76ers 128-124 in the opening game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 21 each and Kevin Huerter had 15 for the Hawks, who are competing in this playoff round for the first time in five years. Clint Capela also had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Game 2 will be Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila) at Philadelphia.
Joel Embiid had been questionable to play with a small lateral meniscus tear in his right knee, but he finished with 39 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots in 38 minutes.
Seth Curry added 21 points, Tobias Harris had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Ben Simmons chipped in with 17 points and 10 assists for the Sixers.
Atlanta made 20 of 47 shots from beyond the 3-point arc. It marked the most 3-pointers ever made against the 76ers in the playoffs.
The Hawks played without De’Andre Hunter, who sat out with right knee soreness.
The Hawks jumped out to a 42-27 lead at the end of the first quarter. They opened the second on a torrid pace as well and extended the advantage to 53-27 after a 3-pointer by Bogdanovic capped a 17-0 run.
