Friday’s NBA playoffs takeaways: Mavericks knock out Clippers; Magic force Game

By Josh Robbins, Joe Vardon, Tim Cato and Law Murray

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the LA Clippers 114-101 on Friday night to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Luka Dončić led Dallas in the first half with his elite playmaking — finishing with 13 assists — while co-star Kyrie Irving ignited American Airlines Arena with his dazzling scoring in the second half, finishing with a game-high 30 points and five 3-pointers.

No Clippers starter scored more than 18 points, and James Harden and Paul George combined to shoot 11 of 34 from the field and 2 of 16 from 3 in the elimination game.

Mavericks 114, Clippers 101

Series: 4-2, Mavericks advance

Dallas rides elite defense into next round

The Mavericks are heading to the conference semifinals for the second time in three seasons. The team has reached this point with an elite defense, one that the team has steadily been building its roster to create and to provide the stinginess needed to accentuate its two stars. In Friday’s Game 6, Dallas closed it out with much of that defense showing even as the team’s franchise player, Dončić, struggled with his shot.

Dončić finished with 28 points on just 9-of-26 shooting and a single made shot out of the 10 he attempted behind the 3-point line. But that’s why Dallas has two stars, and Irving scored 30 to help turn Dallas’ series-clinching win into one that felt comfortably in hand for the entire second half.

There are three questions for Dallas’ upcoming series against the Oklahoma City Thunder that begins on Tuesday. First, Dallas has more size ever since acquiring Daniel Gafford, who made his Mavericks debut off the bench against the Thunder in February to the tune of 19 points and nine rebounds. Rookie center Dereck Lively II didn’t play in that game, but both now make up an enormous two-headed center rotation, the type of physical size that has been the Thunder’s main weakness all season. Can Dallas earn an advantage with second chance points and offensive rebounds?

Second, Oklahoma City forced the league’s most turnovers in the regular season while Dallas’ offense had the league’s fourth-lowest rate. Who wins that battle?

And third, Dončić struggled with his shot all series and wasn’t quite the MVP-level player even as he made up for it with outstanding defensive effort. But surely, at some point, he’ll hit some shots against the Thunder, right? — Tim Cato, Mavericks beat writer

Lineup changes predicted Clippers disaster

Both of the Clippers’ wins in this series came with Amir Coffey starting in place of Kawhi Leonard. With Leonard unable to play well or at all due to right knee inflammation, the starting spot at forward opposite All-Star George was the wild card in the starting five.

Game 5 was a turning point of sorts. Coffey struggled in a start, scoring only 3 points on 1 of 6 field goals. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue pulled him early in the third quarter. Later in the third quarter, he introduced P.J. Tucker…