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The Los Angeles Clippers may have blown a big series lead in 2020, but Kawhi Leonard made sure that wasn’t going to happen again ... at least not in the first round to the Dallas Mavericks. Leonard came one assist short of collecting a triple-double in the Clippers 126-111 win over the Mavericks in the decisive Game 7 at Staples Center on Sunday afternoon. The Clippers advance to face the No. 1 seed Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
Leonard had already brought the heroics in Game 6 when he dropped 45 points to help the Clippers even the series. He finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists plus 4 steals in 40+ minutes in the win. Luka Doncic did everything in his power to get the Mavericks into the second round. He finished with a game-high 46 points with 14 assists and 7 rebounds but it wasn’t enough Tim Hardaway Jr. had an off night shooting the ball and Dallas’ defense was non-existent in the loss.
The Mavericks not only blew a 3-2 lead in the series but also were up earlier on 2-0 after taking two games on the road. This was the first game in the entire series that the home team ended up winning.