The Los Angeles Clippers’ key players Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook struggled in Game 3 against the Dallas Mavericks.
Together, Russell, Kawhi, and Paul George only scored a total of 17 points in the 101-90 defeat to the Mavs.
Kawhi played for 25 minutes and recorded nine points, nine rebounds, and four turnovers, showing signs of being less than 100% due to knee inflammation.
Despite his condition, Kawhi was pleased to be back on the court after missing the last eight regular-season games and the first playoff game.
“Just playing minutes,” Leonard mentioned. “And obviously not playing probably the last whatever days that was from the last game before playoffs started. It takes time to get in a rhythm, like I was saying before. I’m just happy I played. For the most part, was able to get out there and experience the game … I’m going to keep going.”
Paul George struggled as well, managing only seven points while shooting 3-11 from the field and 1-6 from three-point range. He also picked up five fouls during the game.
“I thought this was playoff basketball,” George commented. “A couple of them have been touch fouls. I don’t know. Defense can be physical, they can be aggressive on me on the other side of it, I pick up quick, cheap ones and it’s frustrating.
“But I got to be better. I got to be better, because I felt good rhythm-wise to start the game off and then pick up those [fouls] and get sent to the bench and then it just felt like the whole game I couldn’t find how to be aggressive and create contact and balance all of that while trying to stay within the offense and move the ball and play off the ball, play aggressive and downhill. It was just a lot I was thinking about. Took me out of my game. I got to be better. It really was frustrating, though.”
Usually reliable off the bench, Westbrook had a disappointing performance with only one point in 19 minutes of play. He shot 2-9 from the field and 1-3 from three-point range and was also ejected after an altercation with Luka Doncic and Terance Mann.
Looking ahead to Game 4, Clippers forward Kawhi expressed his intention to play despite his condition.
“The way it is right now, I’ll see tomorrow,” Leonard said. “But I want to play. So…”
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