The Dallas Mavericks finished the job. And exorcised some demons along the way.
Kyrie Irving and Luka Donu010diu0107 combined for 58 points Friday night and the Mavs won their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers with a 114-101 gut-check victory at American Airlines Center. With the win, the Mavs emerged victorious in this best-of-seven series, 4-2, and will now start a best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals series at the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
Irving scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half, Donu010diu0107 finished with 28 points and 13 assists, and the Mavs shook loose from a 52-52 tie at intermission to send the Clippers home packing for the season.