Barnes, Jordan star in Mavericks' 114-110 win over Clippers

Harrison Barnes scored 30 points, and Dorian Finney-Smith tipped in a rebound with 35 seconds remaining to give Dallas the lead for good in the Mavericks' 114-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.

Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 23 rebounds in his first game against his former team.

Lou Williams gave the Clippers just their second lead of the second half at 110-109 with a 3-pointer with 46.9 left, before Barnes drove the lane and missed — but Finney-Smith was there for a tip-in.

Dallas Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan, right, hugs Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley (21), left, prior to an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. Jordan was to play his first game against his former team. (AP PhotoMichael Ainsworth)

Jordan then stole the ball from Williams and made one of two free throws for a 112-110 lead with 27.3 seconds to play. Dennis Smith Jr. blocked Tobias Harris' shot and made the clinching free throws with 9.2 seconds left.

The game featured two loose-ball scraps between the Mavs' Dennis Smith Jr. and the Clippers' Patrick Beverley — the first resulting in Smith losing part of a tooth, and the second in Beverley's ejection after a technical foul.

Montrezl Harrell scored 23 points to lead the Clippers, and Danilo Gallinari and Williams each had 21

Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) grabs a rebound in front of Los Angeles Clippers forward Mike Scott (30) and guard Patrick Beverley (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. (AP PhotoMichael Ainsworth)

Dallas led for most of the second half, but Harrell scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to bring the Clippers back. He scored on a dunk while getting fouled to tie the score at 107 with 1:15 to play, but missed the free throw.

Dallas played without rookie Luka Doncic, who suffered a right hip strain Friday against the Lakers. Without a true wing off the bench, Barnes played 38 minutes.

Following a 10-0 LA run that gave the Clippers their biggest lead at 48-39 in the second quarter, the Mavericks answered with a 21-4 burst. Barea scored 12 points in the run. Jordan's first basket of the game was an emphatic slam off an alley-oop pass from Dennis Smith Jr. to tie it at 52.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Tobias Harris (34) puts up a layup as Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris (34) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. (AP PhotoMichael Ainsworth)

TIP-INS

Clippers: Coach Doc Rivers on Jordan's free-throw shooting, which has improved to 77 percent after averaging 45 percent in his first 10 seasons: "I told him that we're going to check him, we're going to see how good it really is." Jordan was 4 of 7 from the line Sunday.

Mavericks: In addition to Doncic, reserve forward Maxi Kleber sat out with right knee soreness. Coach Rick Carlisle doesn't believe either injury is serious. ... Carlisle also said Dirk Nowitzki is "getting closer" to returning from offseason ankle surgery but had no date for his return.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots over Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. (AP PhotoMichael Ainsworth)

UP NEXT

Clippers: Second half of a back-to-back Monday night at New Orleans.

Mavericks: Host Portland on Tuesday.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Los Angeles Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell (5) dunks the ball over Dallas Mavericks center Salah Mejri (50) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. (AP PhotoMichael Ainsworth)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)