Mavs beat Clippers 105-100 in Game 5

Mavs beat Clippers 105-100 in Game 5

NBA

Mavs beat Clippers 105-100 in Game 5

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Mavs Superstar Luka Doncic scored 42 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. hit two free throws with eight seconds left, and Dallas won 105-100 at Staples Center on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series.

It’s the third playoff series in NBA history — and first since 1995 — in which the road team won the first five games, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

“It’s always easy to play on the road because you’re the enemy,” Kristaps Porzingis said.

The Mavs can close out their first series victory since winning the 2011 NBA championship with a victory in Game 6 at home Friday in front of a full house.

“We’ve got to keep that road mentality when we’re back at home,” Hardaway said “We’ve just got to make sure we do a phenomenal job of staying poised, staying patient, attacking when the opportunities present themselves.”

Hardaway added 20 points, the only other Mavs player in double figures, playing three more minutes than Doncic. Doncic’s points were two off his career playoff high. He had a career-high 14 assists and added eight rebounds.

“Very intense up and down game. A lot of emotions,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “I thought our guys did a great job with composure.”

Doncic shot 17 of 37 from the floor — three more than the 34 combined taken by Clippers stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

“It was too much,” he said. “I shot some shots that I shouldn’t have shot.”

George led five Clippers starters in double figures with 23 points and 10 rebounds after playing the fourth quarter with four fouls. Leonard and Reggie Jackson each added 20 points. Leonard missed a potential tying 3-pointer from the right corner at the final buzzer.

“Just was off-balance and was leaning back and ended up shooting it,” Leonard said. “Got to do a better job.”

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said, “We got to win in seven now.”