BAD NEWS:Two best players decided to leave Dallas maverick today after the……

Luka Doncic briefly left Game 3 with an injury after colliding with Russell Westbrook. He ultimately returned to the game but seemed to struggle throughout it. After the game, he mentioned that his knee was stiff, and has now been officially diagnosed for Game 4.

The Dallas Mavericks have officially listed Luka Doncic as questionable with right knee soreness for Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers.

It’s worth noting that in practice today, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd mentioned that Luka Doncic was feeling good. He stated that everybody is good, just probably stiff. Whether or not Kidd’s statements are a form of gamesmanship, in the same way that the Clippers fronted Kawhi Leonard playing in Game 1 remains to be seen.

With how injured Kawhi Leonard is, the Dallas Mavericks certainly still have a chance of defeating the Clippers in Game 4 regardless of whether or not Luka Doncic plays. Leonard looks like a complete shell of himself right now, doesn’t look like he should be playing on a court, and is putting up his lowest playoff averages since his rookie year.

Should Dallas win Game 4, they’ll take a commanding 3-1 lead against the LA Clippers. Unless Paul George can actually perform to his typical playoff standards, then that lead will likely happen. Kawhi Leonard was once the glimmering hope for LA, but that’s no longer the case with his knee injury.

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Jason Kidd Calls Out Mavs After Clippers Loss; Luka Dončić Takes Blame for Slow Start

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 21: Head Coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the LA Clippers during Round 1 Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd ripped his team for what he described as a “passive” performance in Sunday’s Game 1 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

“They were physical and we were passive,” Kidd told reporters after the Clippers’ 109-97 victory.

The Mavericks scored just 30 first-half points, including a dreadful eight-point performance in the second quarter. While they rebounded in the second half to make the game more competitive, the hole the team dug for the first 24 minutes was insurmountable.

Luka Dončić finished with a game-high 33 points but admonished himself for a slow start.

“I just got to stay aggressive,” Dončić said. “That was my bad in the first half. I wasn’t aggressive enough.”

Kyrie Irving added 31 points, but the Mavs got a grand total of 34 points from the rest of the roster. P.J. Washington (10 points) was the only other Dallas player in double figures.

“It really centered around the foundational point of talking about physicality and this being the playoffs,” Irving said. “A lot of guys aren’t used to being here. A few young guys aren’t used to being here, so they don’t know what they can get away with and what the refs are going to call. I think this was a great first test for us. We obviously failed and we came out with a loss, but I think there are some things we can take into Game 2.”

Making matters worse was the fact the Clippers were playing without Kawhi Leonard, who remains out with a knee injury. Leonard’s status is still up in the air for Game 2, but Dallas could have put itself in strong position to advance by taking advantage of the All-Star’s absence Sunday.

Instead, the Mavs put themselves in a bind they’ll have to claw out of moving forward.