Game 33: LA Clippers (10-22) VS Dallas Mavericks (24-11)

[mkwest]

Thomas has been playing great. He's playing well offensively tonight, as he did against the magic.

[mkwest]

41-33 Clippers with 5:38 to go in the half. 12 assists to 3 turnovers. You have got to love that

[mkwest]

Clippers are up 11. Cassell drives through the open lane and misses a layup to get his own rebound and kick it out to Chris who makes a layup of his own. Bass scores for the Mavs and Sam comes back to knock down a 23-footer.

[mkwest]

Dallas is making their move. A 3 by Stackhouse and an easy layup by Harris has made it a 5-point game. Clippers need to convert right here and they turn it over. Stackhouse makes a move to the basket and it is a blocking foul on Sam. He hits the first shot and the second. 3-point game.

[mkwest]

Sammy hits a shot at the top of the key as the shot clock expires. Clippers up by 5. Kaman fouls Dirk and sends him to the line. That's 3 on Kaman. Dirk misses the first and makes the second. 6 seconds left and Thomas misses a 3 as the buzzer sounds. 51-47 Clippers at the half.

The second quarter wasn't as smooth as the first but we still have the lead and are shooting just under 62%. I'm so glad to see Sammy hitting his shots. I've missed that in the past few games. We need to keep playing as we have. We could hit the boards a little harder. I would like to see us get the ball to Kaman more but as long as the ball is moving and we're getting a good shot off is what matters most.

[JJ LoDuca]

Clips led by 11 in the first half, but Dallas made a small run and the Clips are up by 4 at the half. They're doubling Kaman in the post and he's not always making the best out of the situation. Thomas is being a beast-- I didn't think he had it in him. Like MK said, it's great to see Sammy hitting his shots. I assume Dallas will be pretty pissed about trailing the Clippers for goodness sake, and I imagine they'll play much better in the 2nd half. I hope the Clippers have enough in em to pull this puppy out.

[mkwest]

Dallas tied the game within the first 2 1/2 minutes. Clippers have gone to Kaman early and he has made 2 of 3 so far. Clippers up 55-53.

[mkwest]

Thomas extends the lead to 7 with the 3 point play the old fashioned way.

[mkwest]

Mobley for 3!! Clippers' first 3 of the game. 12 unanswered points by the Clips.

I assume Dallas will be pretty pissed about trailing the Clippers for goodness sake, and I imagine they'll play much better in the 2nd half. I hope the Clippers have enough in em to pull this puppy out.

Like Ralph and Mike were saying, they can't get complacent out there because we had a pretty good half. We have to keep playing hard for 24 more minutes.

[mkwest]

Thomas with the swipe against Dirk, Sammy recovers and passes to Mobley who converts the 3 on 2 fast break.

[mkwest]

Clippers up 69-62 with 2:57 to go in the third. Dirk looks like he might be heating up.

[mkwest]

Dirk shoots a 19 footer over Kaman to make it a 5-point game. Maggette draws the shooting foul and hits both shots to put the Clips up 71-64.

[mkwest]

Barea cuts the lead down to 4 after hitting a huge 3. Clippers turn it over and Brandon Bass slams the lead down to 2. Come on Clips. We need to finish the quarter strong.

[mkwest]

Mobley extends the lead back to 4 after hitting a couple of foul shots. Knight intercepts the pass from Harris and is fouled on the break and will shoot 2. The lead is back up to 6. 50 seconds to go in the third.

[mkwest]

We're playing with a backcourt of Knight and Dickau right now. Horrible possession by the Clippers who don't keep track of the shot clock. Thornton ends up rushing off a shot as Thomas shuffles him the ball. Clippers are up 75-71 at the end of 3.

[Tommy Trojan]

Just tuned in to the game. You guy's have a chance to steal this one. And it won't hurt the Lakers if Dallas looses.

[Tommy Trojan]

Bad bad play by thomas, no need to throw the ball like that

[mkwest]

Especially after seeing the Patsies win earlier. I really want to take this game badly.

[mkwest]

Ugh. Technical on Thomas after getting called for a loose ball foul. Stackhouse hits the free-throw. He then scores off of a layup. Clippers ball and Dickau called with the offensive foul. 1-point lead after Dirk buries a 20-footer.

[mkwest]

Terry hits a 3 and Mavs take the lead by 2.