The Los Angeles Clippers overcame the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 on Sunday afternoon, despite without Kawhi Leonard. The Mavericks came out flat. When asked about this after the game, Luka Doncic remarked, “I don’t know why we did. But we just got to watch film and come out in the second game with the same energy we came out with in the second half.”

Doncic is unsure whether Leonard’s absence affected his team’s focus, stating, “We prepared as if he was going to play, definitely. But this should not change our mindset. Their philosophy was next man up, and they executed admirably. We barely had 48 minutes to concentrate. It’s the playoffs, so we need to stay concentrated for 48 minutes… It should not have altered our attention. But I do not know.”

 

Doncic’s co-star Kyrie Irving expressed similar comments regarding the team’s need to improve moving ahead, but he also revealed some of his positive lessons from this game, saying the following:

“Going into the second half I think we really challenged them. I know we outscored them in the second half. We got stops… First half I think they had a few plays that we just weren’t prepared for and we got to take that accountability. And in the second half we picked up the physicality and started demanding that greatness out of ourselves and not being afraid of the moment.”