LOS ANGELES — — Kyrie Irving scored 24 points on his Dallas debut and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 110-104 on Wednesday night.
The eight-time All-Star was traded to the Mavs on Sunday from the Brooklyn Nets. He was part of a 13-0 surge early in the game, scoring eight points on a jumper and three straight.
Irving had four rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes of what amounted to a dress rehearsal before an injured Luka Doncic returned to give the Mavs a powerful backcourt. Irving was greeted with cheers and a boy holding a sign welcoming him to the team when he was introduced as part of the starting lineup.
Early in the fourth, Irving fouled Paul George. A Clippers fan shouted at him, “I love you, but that was blatant.” Irving laughed and shook his head.
Former Clipper Reggie Bullock scored 15 of his 18 points in the first quarter against his former team. All five Dallas starters hit double figures.
Norman Powell scored 24 points and Terance Mann added 21 for the Clippers, whose two-game winning streak ended. George added 20 points. Kawhi Leonard, who had two points in the first half, finished with 18.
After a 4-2 road trip, the Clippers never led and trailed by 19 in the first quarter.
They raced in the lead in the third. Leonard sparked a 20-10 surge scoring 11 straight points to make it 79-78. Josh Green’s field goal kept the Mavs ahead 81-78 heading into the fourth.
The Mavs quickly extended their lead to 10 points in the fourth. The Clippers came within five four times but the Mavs held them off.
The Clippers cut their deficit to 60-52 at halftime after beating Dallas 27-19 in the second period.
The Mavs scored 41 points in the first quarter while shooting 60 percent from the floor. They outscored the Clippers 21-9 to start the game.
Leonard had two points and George had 10 in the first half when they combined to shoot 5 of 14.
ADVICE
Mavericks: Doncic missed his third straight game with a bruised right heel. He joined the Los Angeles team and is in discussion whether he will play Friday or Saturday when the Mavs are in Sacramento for a back-to-back game. … They made 17 3-pointers, including six by Bullock.
Clippers: John Wall (abdominal pain) remains absent. … Former team co-owner Shelly Sterling, who sold the franchise to Steve Ballmer after her then-husband Donald Sterling was banned by the NBA, sat next to Jalen Rose.
FOLLOWING
Mavericks: Visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday in the fourth of five road games.
Clippers: Host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
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