The Los Angeles Clippers secured a 118-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, led by Norman Powell’s 29-point performance. The Clippers improved to 16-12, while the Mavericks fell to 17-10 in a matchup that highlighted the absence of Dallas stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Doncic missed the game due to a left heel contusion, and Irving was sidelined with right shoulder soreness. The Mavericks struggled offensively without their key players, scoring a season-low 95 points and suffering their most lopsided defeat of the season.
Powell, who played nearly 38 minutes, was efficient from the field, hitting 10 of 19 shots, including four three-pointers. He scored 10 points in the second quarter and finished with five assists and seven rebounds. James Harden added 24 points, shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, while Ivica Zubac contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Dallas relied on first-year Maverick Klay Thompson, who led the team with 22 points. Spencer Dinwiddie, making his first start of the season, added 19 points and seven assists, but the Mavericks were unable to find rhythm from beyond the arc, hitting just 23.3% of their three-point attempts.
The Clippers also benefited from strong bench contributions, outscoring the Mavericks’ reserves 33-16. Amir Coffey chipped in 16 points off the bench, while Kevin Porter Jr. added 12. Kris Dunn, who started at guard, was ejected late in the third quarter for a flagrant 2 foul on Jazian Gortman, but the Clippers maintained their momentum.
Defensively, Los Angeles controlled the paint, with Zubac anchoring their interior presence. The Clippers also held Dallas to season lows in three-point makes and percentage. The absence of Doncic and Irving, who combine to average 52.8 points per game, was evident in the Mavericks’ inability to generate consistent offense.
The victory marked the Clippers’ fourth win in their last six games, helping them solidify their playoff position in the Western Conference. Los Angeles showcased balanced scoring, effective defense, and dominance on the boards, collecting 47 rebounds compared to Dallas’ 40.