Doncic’s buzzer beater lifts Mavs
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Luka Doncic stepped back for a winning 3-pointer — on a tender ankle, no less.
Another installment in the ever-growing legend of Doncic.
Doncic’s deep shot at the buzzer capped a triple-double and the short-handed Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 135-133 in overtime Sunday to even the playoff series at two games apiece.
Doncic finished with 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists for his second straight tripledouble.
“We know this kid has got a flair for the dramatic,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s a guy that lives for these moments.”
To think, Doncic was a gametime decision due to the left ankle he hurt in Game 3. But once he stepped on the floor, he knew he would give it a go.
And once crunch time hit, the ankle wasn’t even a thought.
“One of the best feelings I’ve ever had as a player,” Doncic said about the winner. “Just something special.”
Marcus Morris hit a 3-pointer with around 9 seconds remaining in OT to give the Clippers the lead.
Lou Williams scored 36 points off the bench for the secondseeded Clippers, and Kawhi Leonard had 32. Paul George finished with nine points as his struggles continued. He was 3 of 14 from the field and is shooting 29 percent in the series.
JAZZ 129, NUGGETS 127
Donovan Mitchell scored 18 of his 51 points in the fourth quarter and Utah withstood a 50point night from Jamal Murray to beat Denver and take a 3-1 lead in the playoff series.
Mitchell was 15 of 27 from the floor and went 17 of 18 from the free throw line. The 23-year-old Mitchell scored 57 points in Game 1.
He’s averaging 39.5 points in the series.
CELTICS 110, 76ERS 106
Kemba Walker scored 32 points and Boston pulled away in fourth quarter to complete a first-round series sweep of Philadelphia.
Jayson Tatum added 28 points and had a playoff career-high 15 rebounds for Boston. The Celtics advanced to Eastern Conference semifinals against Toronto.
RAPTORS 150, NETS 122
Norman Powell scored 29 points, fellow reserve Serge Ibaka added 27 points and 15 rebounds and Toronto steamrolled into the Eastern Conference semifinals by routing Brooklyn to complete a four-game sweep.
The Raptors lost Kyle Lowry to an ankle injury in the first quarter but the defending NBA champions had more than enough depth and power left to wrap up the first sweep in team history.