The Los Angeles Clippers marked their first game at the state-of-the-art Intuit Dome with a commanding 110-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Although neither Luka Doncic nor Kyrie Irving dressed for the game, it was an impressive win for a Clippers squad trying to gain momentum for the start of the regular season.
HERE ARE A COUPLE OF TAKEAWAYS FROM THE CONVINCING VICTORY
Kevin Porter Jr. looks ready to become a vital member of the rotation. Clippers coach Ty Lue has some decisions to make regarding his guard rotation for the regular season. While James Harden, Terance Mann, Norman Powell, and Kris Dunn will surely divvy up the backcourt minutes, talented guard Kevin Porter Jr. made his case on Monday night against the Mavs.
ANOTHER LOB ✅
ANOTHER DUNK ✅ pic.twitter.com/bLab5x95u7— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 15, 2024
Showing an efficiency that had otherwise been missing in his previous stops in Cleveland and Houston, the left-handed guard shot 8-of-15 from the field and led the Clippers with 18 points. However, he remained careless with the ball and committed four turnovers.
HARDEN’S LOOSENESS WITH THE BALL
With Kawhi Leonard still out for the foreseeable future, the ball is expected to be in Harden’s hands a lot, as he’s expected to be the primary ballhandler and playmaker. While it is reasonable to expect a few turnovers here and there, Harden has averaged 4.5 turnovers per game in the preseason.
THE PASS. THE FINISH.
Harden ➡️ Zu https://t.co/xYshb5X6Yk pic.twitter.com/1Bnzo48pX2
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 15, 2024
With the Clippers not having plenty of offensive options this season until Kawhi returns to the roster, the margin for error is razor-thin, and possessions are crucial. That said, Harden must obviously take better care of the ball and minimize his turnovers to give the Clippers the best chance at winning.
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