Quentin Grimes delivered a standout performance off the bench to lead the Dallas Mavericks (18-10) to a 113-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (16-13) on Saturday night. Grimes scored 20 points, with 14 coming in a crucial fourth quarter, to seal the win despite the absence of Luka Doncic, Dallas’ leading scorer.
Doncicnmissed his second consecutive contest due to a left heel contusion. In his absence, the Mavericks showcased their depth, with eight players scoring in double figures. Klay Thompson contributed 16 points, while Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie added 15 each.
Grimes turned the tide in the final period, hitting back-to-back three-pointers before sinking three free throws after being fouled on another attempt from beyond the arc. The Mavericks’ bench outscored the Clippers’ reserves 46-24, with contributions from Daniel Gafford (13 points) and Naji Marshall (12 points).
Norman Powell led Los Angeles with 28 points, while James Harden and Kevin Porter Jr. chipped in 19 apiece. Ivica Zubac recorded his 19th double-double of the season with 13 points and 15 rebounds, but the Clippers struggled with efficiency. They were outshot by Dallas 47.8% to 22.2% in the second quarter, falling behind 54-40 at halftime.
James Harden achieved a personal milestone, surpassing Tim Duncan for 16th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 26,503 points. However, his efforts were not enough to close the gap as the Clippers dropped the second game of their two-game series in Dallas.
For the Mavericks, Dereck Lively II tallied a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, helping Dallas improve to 6-2 without Doncic this season. Irving, who had missed the previous game due to a sore shoulder, struggled early but found his rhythm late, hitting a crucial three-pointer in the first half and finishing with six assists.
The Mavericks excelled in ball movement, recording 25 assists to the Clippers’ 18. They also dominated the glass, outrebounding Los Angeles 43-40, including 11 offensive boards that led to crucial second-chance points.
Powell led the Clippers’ offense but received little support from the rest of the team. Los Angeles shot just 27% from beyond the arc, with Harden and Powell combining to make only five of their 20 three-point attempts.
