Clippers Dominate Mavericks in Historic Performance, Fuel Playoff Push with Fourth Straight Win

The Los Angeles Clippers delivered a masterclass in efficiency Saturday night, dismantling the Dallas Mavericks 135-104 at Intuit Dome for their second consecutive blowout victory over the beleaguered Texas squad. The win extended their streak to four straight games and six victories in their last seven outings, solidifying their position in the tightly contested Western Conference playoff race.

Historic Night for Zubac, Leonard’s Health Milestone Center Ivica Zubac etched his name in NBA history with a flawless 11-for-11 shooting performance, finishing with 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Croatian big man became the first player ever to record at least 25 points and 10 rebounds without a single miss or turnover. His dominance inside complemented Kawhi Leonard’s 29-point eruption on 12-of-19 shooting, marking the first time this season the two-time Finals MVP played both ends of a back-to-back.

James Harden orchestrated the offense with surgical precision, matching Leonard’s 29 points while dishing out 14 assists and grabbing seven rebounds. The trio combined for 83 points on 33-of-49 shooting through three quarters, outscoring Dallas’ entire lineup (82 points) during that span.

Mavericks’ Freefall Continues For Dallas, Anthony Davis battled through apparent knee and abdominal discomfort to score 27 points, while Kai Jones added a perfect 9-for-9 showing off the bench for 18 points. The Mavericks’ 7-for-27 three-point shooting (25.9%) and 18 turnovers encapsulated their ongoing struggles since trading franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić to the Lakers earlier this season.

The Clippers’ defensive intensity set the tone early, holding Dallas to 43% overall shooting while forcing the Mavericks into contested looks. Los Angeles led by 12 after the first quarter and unleashed a 17-6 third-quarter run to bury Dallas, capped by Zubac’s rim-rattling dunk that pushed the lead to 92-71.

Playoff Implications With five games remaining, the Clippers (now 44-32 per latest standings context) remain locked in a multi-team battle to avoid the play-in tournament. Their recent surge – including 13 wins in 16 games – has been fueled by improved health and offensive cohesion.

Coach Tyronn Lue emphasized the urgency postgame: “We’re fighting for our lives. Right now we need all hands on deck”. The strategy appears clear: leverage Leonard’s two-way brilliance in limited minutes (25 played Saturday) while riding Harden’s playmaking and Zubac’s interior dominance.

Looking Ahead The Clippers host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday before a critical closing stretch that could determine their playoff seeding. Meanwhile, Dallas returns home Wednesday to face Dončić and the Lakers, a matchup fraught with symbolism for a franchise now 6.5 games out of playoff position.

As the Clippers’ stars align at the perfect moment, their combination of veteran savvy and historic individual performances makes them a dangerous wildcard in the Western Conference gauntlet. For Dallas, the offseason can’t arrive soon enough, with questions about roster construction and injury management looming large.