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The Dallas Mavericks host the LA Clippers on Friday night at the American Airlines Center in the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament. The Mavericks lost their first game, while the Clippers are set to make their debut.
Luka Doncic and the Mavericks were no match against defending champions Denver Nuggets in their tournament opener on Saturday. The Nuggets controlled the game early, thwarting the Mavs' comeback in a 125-114 win.
Meanwhile, the Clippers are likely treating the game like a regular season outing. It might not work, as the court would be distracting, and the crowd in Dallas is always fired up when the Clips are in town.
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Keys for Dallas Mavericks to beat LA Clippers in NBA In-Season Tournament
The Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers matchup has always been exciting since Luka Doncic came to the league.
Doncic loves scoring against the LA Clippers, averaging 32.3 points in 15 regular season games, but it will take more than "Luka Magic" to get the win on Wednesday.
On that note, let's take a look at three keys for the Mavericks to get their first NBA In-Season Tournament win.
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#1 Hot streak from beyond the arc
One of the reasons why the Dallas Mavericks are 6-2 this season is because of their 3-point shooting.
The Mavericks are the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA. They're first in 3-point shots made (17.0 per game), 3-point shots attempted (42.9 per game) and 3-point field goal percentage (39.7%).
The Mavericks will need to continue shooting the ball at a high rate to have a better shot at beating the Clippers. The energy inside the American Airlines Center could fuel a hot-shooting night, with Kyrie Irving due for his first breakout game of the season as well.
#2 Not commit a lot of fouls
The Dallas Mavericks might not have one of the best defensive ratings in the NBA, but they know how not to commit a lot of fouls. The Mavs are averaging only 17.8 fouls per game, which is the third-lowest in the league, behind the Phoenix Suns and the Atlanta Hawks.
Dallas might have a tough time preventing players like James Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook from going to the free throw line. However, Mavs coach Jason Kidd has been working on adjusting their defense based on their opponents.
#3 LA Clippers are 0-4 on the road this season
One major advantage for the Mavericks on Wednesday night is that they're at home. The LA Clippers are one of four NBA teams without a win on the road. They are 0-4 after losses to the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, LA Lakers and Utah Jazz.
If the Dallas Mavericks can use the crowd to their advantage, they could have the game in the bag. Nevertheless, a Mavs-Clips game has always been exciting, with the teams splitting the season series in three of the last five years.
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