By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
In his first NBA playoffs game, Slovenian Luka Doncic had 42 points, most ever by a player in his first postseason game, and added nine assists and seven rebounds. However, with Latvian Kristaps Porzingis being ejected, the Clippers managed to get the 118-110 win and start the series on the right foot.
Kawhi Leonard had 29 points and 12 rebounds for the winning side, which got the lead when Porzingis was ejected for picking up his second technical foul in the third quarter.
“KP had my back. He did it for me. He did it for his teammate. He had my back,” Doncic said. “Not just me, but the whole team appreciates that. I don’t think it was fair to take him out of the game, especially in the playoffs.”
Dallas led 71-66 with 9:10 left in third when Doncic was called for palming the ball. Clippers Marcus Morris tried to grab the ball and ended up grabbing Doncic, who sought to push his way free. Porzingis came over and attempted to brush away Morris, who responded with a push. Referees gave both players technical fouls.
Paul George added 27 points for the winners, while Porzingis finished with 14. Croatian center Ivica Zubac had a double-double for the Clippers (10 p. 10 r.), German forward Maxi Kleber added three points and six rebounds for Dallas, which also got two points and eight rebounds by Serb Boban Marjanovic.
Meanwhile the Celtics beat the Sixers 109-101 and also got their 1-0 lead behind 32 points by Jason Tatum and German forward Daniel Theiss adding nine points, Toronto prevailed over the Nets and Denver beat Utah.