The LA Clippers have a chance to close out their first-round series with the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon.
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00:00 Last to sell at LA Clippers, they hung a franchise record 154 points on the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5.
00:07 About as dominant as we'd seen them look all year long, hitting a stride at the perfect time.
00:12 That was last Tuesday.
00:14 In the time between, we've seen NBA players make unprecedented decisions
00:18 by refusing to participate in games in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake
00:22 and holding several meetings to discuss the future of the NBA season.
00:25 All the while, personalities on networks like NBA TV and TNT
00:29 were starting to have necessary conversations about ongoing social issues in this country.
00:33 Sam Mitchell spoke about how we only seem to come together as Americans in wartime.
00:37 Chris Webber teared up while discussing the protests.
00:40 Kenny Smith walked off the NBA on TNT set in solidarity with Milwaukee Bucks.
00:45 Those conversations were a start, and ones that might have taken place
00:49 had the league's players decided not to take action.
00:51 Now that we're heading back into the thick of LA's first round series,
00:54 it's vital that we don't lose sight of that.
00:57 Looking at today's injury report, looking solely at the basketball side of things,
01:01 it looks like this break has been a lot of good for the Clippers,
01:04 as Patrick Beverley could suit up this afternoon for the first time since the series opener.
01:08 Beverley has missed the last four games of the cap screen in this series,
01:12 and each time has had the doubtful tag attached to one of the team's injury report.
01:16 But on Saturday afternoon, his status is up here to be questionable,
01:19 a sign that he may play in Game 6.
01:21 Now Landry Shaman has been the main beneficiary of Beverley's absence so far.
01:25 As in the starting nod in each of the last three games,
01:28 he's seen success there as well, averaging over 12 points per game
01:32 while shooting over 50% or better from the floor and three-point range.
01:36 That said, Beverley is one of the most important players on the team,
01:40 and his presence is certainly missed, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
01:43 If he is able to hit the floor this afternoon,
01:45 expect LA to look like a more cohesive group from the get-go,
01:49 as the team always plays its best basketball at Beverley out there.
01:52 The Dallas Mavericks, on the other hand, have drawn the short end of the stick,
01:55 as Chris "Daps" Porzingis has been ruled out for the remainder of the series
01:58 with a torn meniscus.
02:00 It's a tough blow for Dallas, as Porzingis has been playing some of his best basketball
02:03 this season in Orlando, earning all-bubble second-team honors,
02:07 with Doncic earning first-team and Kawhi Leonard earning second-team as well.
02:10 Dallas has also listed Trey Burke, Luka Doncic, Dorian "Finnie" Smith,
02:14 and Tim Hardaway Jr. as questionable for today's game with various injuries,
02:18 though none of those seem to be too serious.
02:20 Looking at the storylines for today's game for LA,
02:23 we wanted to see if they can maintain that urgency.
02:25 In Game 5, the Clippers looked like they were the better team than the Mavericks.
02:29 For the first time all series, really, they came out of the gate
02:32 playing aggressive, energetic basketball,
02:34 and didn't lit up for the entirety of the contest.
02:37 As the lead grew as each quarter went on,
02:39 the team's 43-point victory was the largest in a playoff game in franchise history.
02:44 Now the Clippers are showing what they're capable of.
02:46 It's crucial they maintain that intensity and urgency in this series.
02:49 As this series and the postseason continue.
02:53 LA may have dominated Game 5 and proved which team is best in this series,
02:58 but Dallas is still very much in position to take this thing to Game 7
03:02 and potentially win it as well.
03:03 For Dallas, the key storyline is Luka and the Mavericks
03:06 kind of already surpassing expectations we had for them.
03:09 If Dallas is going to win this series, or at least Game 6,
03:12 it's going to be because of Luka.
03:14 The 21-year-old has already shown an ability to take over games in this series,
03:17 as he gave us an unforgettable triple-double performance in Game 5
03:21 that was capped off by a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer in overtime.
03:25 That's a crazy statement to make for someone that's that age.
03:28 He's arguably the best player in this series,
03:30 and that's something we'll need to continue to be if the Mavericks are going to extend this series,
03:34 especially with Porzingis' sideline written out.
03:36 That said, nobody should discredit Doncic if his team isn't able to get it done.
03:41 This Clippers group is historically great
03:43 and has one of the league's greatest postseason performers in Kowale on the roster.
03:48 Many people, including myself, thought this series would be over in five games.
03:52 Now, Doncic and the Mavericks have already exceeded expectations,
03:55 and they'll continue to be a problem for years to come.
03:57 Prediction for today's game?
03:59 Dallas is an excellent team, and Doncic is an even more excellent player,
04:03 but after playing one of their best games in the history of the franchise last Tuesday,
04:07 it's hard to see the Clippers letting Game 6 go Dallas' way.
04:10 This group finally seems motivated, and they're showing that edge we've been waiting to see all season long.
04:15 And with as many strong-willed players as LA has on this roster,
04:18 a loss today would be pretty stunning.
04:20 So for that, we have the Clippers winning this one 130-113.
04:24 You can watch today's game at 3.30 p.m. Eastern Time.
04:28 It will air on ESPN and Fox Sports Prime TV.