LOS ANGELES: Kawhi Leonard tied his postseason career high with 45 points as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks 104-97 Friday to stave off elimination and force game seven in their Western Conference NBA series.
The Clippers kept their season alive by winning in front of an almost full house at Dallas' American Airlines Center, marking the first time in NBA history that the road team has won the first six games in a best-of-seven series.
Game seven is Sunday at Staples Center arena in downtown Los Angeles where the Mavericks have won three games.
"I didn't want to go home," said Leonard of facing elimination in front of 18,300 Dallas fans in the first-round of the playoffs.
Leonard becomes just the fourth player in playoff history with 45 points and 70 percent shooting while facing elimination, joining LeBron James, Wilt Chamberlain and Canadian Jamal Murray.
"I had to insert myself into the game," Leonard said. "My teammates found me, I got some open looks, knocked them down and I just kept going from there."
Reggie Jackson added 25 and Paul George scored 20 points with 13 rebounds as the Clippers rallied from a seven-point deficit in the third quarter.
Luka Doncic scored 29 points with 11 assists for the Mavericks, who are seeking to avenge a first-round playoff loss to the Clippers last season when they were ousted in six games. Tim Hardaway added 23 points for Dallas.
"(Kawhi) destroyed us. He had a hell of a game. That's what he does," Doncic said of Leonard.
Doncic, who scored 42 points in a game five win, waited until late in the game on Friday to score a large portion of his points.
The Mavericks shot just 29 percent from the field in the final quarter and 41 percent overall.
Leonard carried the Clippers on his back, shooting 18-of-25 from the floor and draining five of nine threes.
The Clippers led 48-45 at the half but trailed 90-88 heading into the fourth. Los Angeles' Nicolas Batum made a dunk with just over five minutes left in the fourth to give them a 90-85 lead. That set the stage for Leonard to carry them to the finish.
Leonard drained back-to-back threes down the stretch as the Clippers seized a 99-90 lead with 100 seconds to go.
Doncic said the Mavericks' winning record at Staples Center has them confident about game seven.
"We all believe we can win game seven," he said.
Leonard scores 45 as Clippers win on road to force game seven
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Leonard scores 45 as Clippers win on road to force game seven
- Game seven is Sunday at Staples Center arena in downtown Los Angeles where the Mavericks have won three games.
Umar Zaib leads Pakistan U19 into tri-series final with commanding win over Afghanistan
- Pakistan posted 238 for nine in 50 overs, built around solid contributions from top order
- Afghanistan were bundled out for 105 in 30.2 overs as Pakistan’s pace proved too strong
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Under-19 (U19) confirmed their place in the final of the tri-series in Zimbabwe with a commanding 133-run win over Afghanistan U19 at the Sunrise Sports Club in Harare on Friday.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan posted 238 for nine in 50 overs, built around solid contributions from the top order. Sameer Minhas top-scored with a fluent 56, while Usman Khan (43, 59b, 3x4s, 1x6) and Ali Hassan Baloch (39, 68b, 1x4, 1x6) laid a strong foundation for the side.
In turn, Afghanistan were bundled out for 105 in 30.2 overs as Pakistan’s pace proved too strong.
“Right-arm fast bowler Umar Zaib led the charge with a match-winning spell, clinching five wickets for 31 runs, including early breakthroughs and key middle-order dismissals,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
“He was adjudged player of the match. Support came from Ahmed Hussain and Momin Qamar – both taking two wickets each.”
Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan had edged Afghanistan U19 by one wicket, while their league match against Zimbabwe U19 was washed out after the first innings due to rain.
Pakistan U19 will now face hosts Zimbabwe U19 on Sunday in their final league fixture before meeting the same opponents again in the final on Jan. 6.
SCORES IN BRIEF
Pakistan 238-9, 50 overs (Sameer Minhas 56, Usman Khan 43, Ali Hassan Baloch 39; Salam Khan 2-48, Zaitullah Shaheen 2-50)
Afghanistan 105 all out, 30.2 overs (Mahboob Khan 29; Umar Zaib 5-31, Ahmed Hussain 2-2, Momin Qamar 2-26)
