The Dallas Mavericks have done it again! After establishing a commendable win record during the regular season, the franchise has defeated the LA Clippers for the fourth time during the playoff series. As a result of this, they will now head to the Western Conference Semi-Finals. While Luka Doncic again came out on top with his performance, Kyrie Irving led the scoring effort during the recent matchup. However, given his on-court prowess, no one would have blamed the player for being slightly drained.

During a post-game Q&A session, when discussing his performance, the 32-year-old shooting guard proceeded to state, “To be honest with you, I was physically tired and exhausted in that first half. Playing defense at a high level would do that to you. But I’m just grateful for my teammates for picking me up”.

Kyrie Irving scored 30 points, six rebounds, and four assists during his 42 minutes on the court. Aside from his offensive prowess, the player also put up a staunch defense against Paul Geroge, preventing him from making any shots. As a result, the Clippers’ second-highest scorer could only muster 18 points and went 4-13 with his field goals.

Irving was able to put 28 of his 30 points only during the second half since he had difficulty making contact with the hoop during the first. Fortunately for him, Luka Doncic and the rest of the offensive effort were there to cover his tracks. Their combined contribution tied the score 52-52 during the initial stage of the game. By the time it concluded, the 8x NBA All-Star and others had brought the score to 114-101. Instead of criticizing his teammate for missing out in the first half, Luka Doncic sent his flowers by stating, “[Kyrie] is amazing, man. In the first half, he had two points, and then he finished with 30. Never count him out. It’s amazing just having him on our team.”

Irving’s exhaustion seemed to be reflecting as he was heading back towards the locker room. As fans standing outside greeted him, the player reciprocated by waving his hand and thumping his chest but didn’t choose to interact with each of them personally. It makes sense, as one would immediately head off to take some rest after spending 42 minutes on the court.

Mavs-OKC Thunder Schedule for Round 2

Within a few minutes of the conclusion of the Mavericks-Clippers clash, the NBA released the official schedule for the upcoming Western Conference Semi-Finals. As part of another 7-game series, Kyrie Irving and co will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder next. They are the same franchise against whom the Mavericks hold a 4-6 win record. The stakes will be the highest for the team since the tournament’s commencement, and nothing will be left to chance.

The first two clashes between the Mavericks and the OKC are scheduled to occur on the 7th and the 9th of May, respectively. Both games will be held at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma. The Mavericks will get the opportunity to host their rivals during the next two games, which are set to occur on the 11th and the 13th of May, respectively. All four matchups, except for Game 3, are scheduled to begin at 9:30 PM.

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If one of the teams manages to secure a 4-0 record against their rivals, then the Semi-Finals will end there and then. If not, the series will continue. In such a situation, Games 5, 6 and 7 will be held on the 15th, 18th, and 20th May. The arenas of both cities will receive the teams on an alternate basis.