Luka Doncic starts, dominates Game 4 vs. Clippers, but Kristaps Porzingis a late scratch
The Dallas Mavericks had Luka Doncic for Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers, but took the floor without Kristaps Porzingis, who was a late scratch. The team announced Sunday that Doncic would play in the contest despite suffering an ankle sprain Friday.
Doncic was key in the Mavericks’ 135-133 OT win in Game 4 to even the series at 2-2, hitting the winning 3-pointer as time expired. He finished with 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists.
Porzingis was ruled out just before tip-off with right knee soreness. It’s the same knee that forced Porzingis to miss several regular-season games, but not the knee that caused him to miss more than a full season with a torn ACL.
Doncic, 21, injured his ankle in the third quarter of the team’s 130-122 loss to the Clippers in Game 3. Doncic continued to play despite the injury, but only scored 13 points in the contest, shooting just 4-of-14 from the field.
The Mavs listed Doncic as questionable for Game 4 due to the injury. An MRI on Doncic’s left ankle revealed “nothing alarming,” according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Luka Doncic has been a force in the series
Before the injury, Doncic was a force in Games 1 and 2. He went for 42 points in a 118-110 loss in Game 1 before dropping 28 points in the Mavericks’ 127-114 win in Game 2.
After a dominant Game 4, the Mavericks are relying on Doncic to get them past the Clippers and win the first-round series.
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