By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Sports Writer
DALLAS — The Clippers’ back-and-forth series with the Dallas Mavericks keeps getting wilder.
Paul George and James Harden each scored 33 points while playing key fourth-quarter roles to help the Clippers hold on after blowing a 31-point lead and beat the Mavericks, 116-111, in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon, leveling the best-of-seven first-round playoff series at 2-2.
The Clippers won again without All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard, who missed the series opener with right knee inflammation before playing in the two Dallas victories.
The teams have split a pair on each other’s home court in the third first-round meeting between them in the past five seasons. Game 5 is Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Kyrie Irving scored 40 points for Dallas, including an acrobatic layup with 2:15 remaining for a 104-103 lead that was the first for the Mavericks since the middle of the first quarter.
Luka Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his fourth career playoff triple-double – all against the Clippers.
George scored 26 points in the first half, when the Clippers’ lead reached 55-24 on a 3-pointer by Harden. The high-scoring stars combined to go 11 for 16 from long range as the Clippers finished 18 for 29 from behind the arc.
After Irving’s go-ahead layup, George hit his first basket of the second half, a fadeaway 3-pointer from the corner. Irving missed a layup, and Harden converted a three-point play as the 10-time All-Star scored 15 points in the fourth.
Related Articles
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard out for Game 4, no timeline for a return
Swanson: Paul George’s foul trouble adds to Clippers’ troubles
Swanson: Clippers have trouble reincorporating Kawhi Leonard
Clippers drop chippy Game 3 to Mavericks, trail series 2-1
Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard shook off some rust but needs his timing back
The Clippers tied a franchise playoff record for a quarter with eight 3-pointers in the first, and George had three of them while scoring his playoff first-quarter high with 16 points to match the Mavericks and help build a 39-16 lead.
The lead reached 55-24 when Harden hit a 3-pointer not long after Doncic was called for a technical foul coming down the court when his miss dropped Dallas to 0 for 11 from long range.
Irving hit the next two 3-pointers for Dallas, and the rally was on. He scored 16 in the second quarter and kept it going in the third, finishing those two quarters with 26 after a scoreless first. Dallas trailed by four entering the fourth quarter.
More to come on this story.