The LA Clippers — with spurning center DeAndre Jordan — came into a hostile Dallas Mavericks arena and played the first quarter like championship contenders. The Clippers took all the heat the Mavs and the crowd threw at them, scored 35 points in the opening quarter anyway and took an 8-point lead. It was the last quarter they would win against a Mavs team that put played a determined brand of basketball. The Mavs held the Clippers to 19 points in the second quarter, setting a tone that saw them win each of the remaining quarters (by 7, 7, and 4 points respectively) for a 118-108 win. The Mavs-Clippers season series is even at 1-1.
Wes Matthews had a blazing 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting for the Mavs. Fountain of Youth slurper Dirk Nowitzki had 31 points in 32 minutes, shooting 11-for-14 from the floor. Point guard Deron Williams played an outstanding game on both ends, limiting Chris Paul to 2-for-11 shooting and hitting key baskets. The Mavs moved to 4-4.
