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Kyrie Irving Has Perfect Analogy on Facing Kawhi Leonard-Less Los Angeles Clippers After Dallas Mavericks’ Loss

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated 4/22/24

Even without Kawhi Leonard in the lineup, the Los Angeles Clippers are still a dangerous team to face in the playoffs. And after Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks faced them in Game 1 of their series, there’s a lot to learn from their loss to team.

In that game, the Clippers went home with the 109-97 win over the Mavericks to get the 1-0 lead in the series. James Harden was in the driver’s seat for his team by dropping 28 points on 47 percent shooting from the field and 54 percent from the three-point line. Paul George tallied 22 points and six rebounds, while Ivica Zubac put up 20 points and 15 boards for LA.

For his part, All-Star guard Luka Doncic posted 33 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. Irving contributed 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals in almost 40 minutes on the court. And apart with PJ Washington’s 11 points, no other Mavericks players were able to score in double-digits against the Clippers.

The win gave Los Angeles an early lead in the series, with only three more wins to seal the deal. The Mavericks, on the other hand, need to get at least one victory on the road to give them a chance to advance to the next round.

Dallas Mavericks Star Kyrie Irving Explains Why the Los Angeles Clippers Are Still Dangerous Even Without Kawhi Leonard

After the game, Irving spoke to reporters and explained why the Clippers are still a dangerous team, even without Leonard in the lineup. In a video posted by Tomer Azarly on X:

Kyrie Irving on facing the Clippers without Kawhi Leonard:

“It is a psychological game, playing chess, playing high-level combative game, competitive game. When someone like Kawhi who has a huge presence for their team isn’t playing, there is a bit of an adjustment period… pic.twitter.com/mIVwasUbAa

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 22, 2024

At this point in time, Leonard remains questionable to play due to a knee inflammation . Even if that’s the case, the two-time NBA champion’s absence has caused other players in Los Angeles’ lineup to step up, most notably Terrance Mann and Russell Westbrook.

It’s scary to think that a healthy Leonard can make the Clippers better than they are now. That’s why Doncic and the Mavs must adapt soon or face elimination faster than they expected.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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