Luka Doncic and defensive-minded Mavs take a chippy 101-90 win over Clippers for 2-1 series lead

DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic called out to his coaches during a flurry of 3-pointers from James Harden.

The Mavericks superstar and NBA scoring champion wanted to defend the star guard of the Los Angeles Clippers.

It's suddenly defense first in Dallas.

Doncic had 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and the defensive-minded Mavericks had a chippy 101-90 victory over the Clippers on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.

The Mavs rode the same defense that gave them home-court advantage with a Game 2 victory in LA, and won in Dallas three years after losing all three first-round games on their floor in a seven-game loss to the Clippers. Game 4 is Sunday in Dallas.

“I think we all see that when we’re on the defensive side, there’s a different look in everybody’s eyes,” said rookie center Dereck Lively II, who had all 13 of his points in the first half as the Mavs got their lob game going with 10 dunks before the break. “It’s like being aggressive and being the aggressor even though they have the ball.”

Daniel Gafford, Lively's tag-team partner as a dunker and rim protector, had an emphatic block of a dunk attempt by Paul George early in the fourth quarter while Dallas was taking control for good in a game with five technical fouls, a flagrant foul and two ejections.

Harden scored 21 points for the Clippers, but just seven after halftime, while fellow stars George and Kawhi Leonard had little impact.

Norman Powell also had 21, and Ivica Zubac had 19 points and eight rebounds. But the Clippers had 19 turnovers and the Mavericks had seven blocks — three of them from Gafford and two from Lively.

George dealt with foul trouble and finished with seven points, five rebounds, five assists — and five fouls.

Leonard never looked comfortable in his second game back after missing nine games with right knee inflammation and had nine points and nine rebounds.

“It just didn’t respond the way we wanted after the first game,” Leonard said about his surgically repaired knee. “But we’re going to get it right. Time will tell. We’re doing all the right things.”

Kyrie Irving picked up his fourth foul early in the second half before scoring 19 of his 21 points in the final 13-plus minutes, including eight in the final 1:18 of the third quarter. Doncic's co-star was instrumental in Dallas rebuilding an 18-point lead that had been cut to six.

An already testy game reached a boiling point midway through the fourth quarter when Russell Westbrook slung Doncic around after fouling him.

Westbrook was called for a technical for that contact and for shoving P.J. Washington after Washington confronted him. Washington also was called for a tech during the sequence, and already had one from an earlier shoving match with Terance Mann.

Westbrook, who in the first half got a flagrant 1 foul for excessive contact when fouling Josh Green on a breakaway, and Washington were ejected.

Westbrook, who missed all seven shots and scored one point, drew the ire of the crowd one other time when he bowled over Doncic after Zubac was called for a foul as Doncic went up for a shot. Officials reviewed the play but ruled Westbrook's contact incidental.

“We’ve got to channel our aggression in other ways,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “It’s getting chippy. I like the physicality. I like the tough possessions. I like all of that. But we’ve got to make sure we’re not getting the technical fouls, we’re not getting thrown out of the game, because everybody’s important.”

Doncic, who briefly left the court after limping off while grabbing his right knee in the first quarter, was just 7 of 25 from the field and 3 of 14 from 3-point range.

But Dallas held George and Westbrook to a combined 1 of 10 from deep, while Leonard didn't even have a 3 attempt among just seven shots in 25 minutes.

“He’s trying to find his way back,” Lue said. “We’re just managing it. Just being smart, making sure we do it right by Kawhi and seeing how he feels and just kind of gauge it from there.”

Harden scored 12 of his 14 first-half points with four 3-pointers in a three-minute span starting in the final second of the first quarter. He didn’t score again until the final minute of the third as the Clippers finished with 19 turnovers while also losing their composure.

“We’re all competing for each inch to find a way to win,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “This series is going to be more mental as it goes on just because of the physicality. I thought the guys did a great job of protecting one another.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Dallas Mavericks' Josh Green is defended by Los Angeles Clippers' Russell Westbrook, right, on a shot attempt during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Dallas. Westbrook was called for a flagrant foul on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) comes away with a steal from Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic, left, during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks' Dereck Lively II (2) defends during the first half in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) goes for a dunk between Los Angeles Clippers' Ivica Zubac (40) and Kawhi Leonard (2) during the first half of Game 2 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic slowly walks off the court with a staff member during the first half of Game 2 of the team's NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers in Dallas, Friday, April 26, 2024. Doncic continued playing in the half. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers' James Harden (1) works around Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington, left, defends as Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard (2) works to the basket during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, works against Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the first half in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Dallas, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers' Terance Mann, right, is held back, by referee Justin Van Duyne (64), after an altercation with Dallas Mavericks during the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Dallas, Friday, April 26, 2024. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic (77) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers' Russell Westbrook, right, during the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Dallas, Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

BRUGGE, Belgium (AP) — A late penalty from Lucas Beltran that rewarded Fiorentina's intense pressing ensured the Italian team progressed to the Europa Conference League final for the second straight year with an aggregate 4-3 win over Club Brugge on Wednesday.

Fiorentina, which lost to West Ham in the title match last year, will face either Olympiakos or Aston Villa in the May 29 final in Athens. The Greek team hosts its English Premier League rival on Thursday holding a 4-2 lead from the first leg in England.

Fiorentina is now unbeaten in its last 13 European matches.

Beltran’s goal secured a 1-1 draw after Brugge captain Hans Vanaken put the hosts in front with a first-half goal to level the tie. Fiorentina had prevailed 3-2 in the first leg in Italy.

Club Brugge was in control early on at the Jan Breydel stadium. Playing in front of the backline, Ghana international Denis Odoi was excellent in mastering the midfield with Vanaken as Fiorentina players were pegged back in their half and defended with pugnacity.

Brugge found an opening in the 20th minute when Vanaken delivered a precise cross for Maxim De Cuyper in the box. The defender tried to head the ball home but could not connect with it, and it went straight into the back of the net.

Brugge suddenly lost its focus after scoring and allowed Fiorentina to kickstart its match with a series of chances.

Back from injury, Brugge goalkeeper Simon Mignolet made an excellent save to win a one-on-one with Nicolas Gonzalez. Forward Christian Kouame then came close with a stunning half-volley that struck the crossbar and bounced in front of the goal line.

Both sides looked threatening after the interval, with Fiorentina gradually taking control of the game.

The Italian team had a first chance to level the scoring from a free kick that Cristiano Biraghi fired onto the crossbar in the 74th. Fiorentina then hit the woodwork for the second time in the next minute as Kouame headed a cross off the post.

The Italian club’s efforts were rewarded in the 85th minute when Brandon Mechele conceded a penalty for a foul in the box. Beltran took the kick and sent the ball past Mignolet with a precise low shot.

Vanaken had a last opportunity to send the game into extra time after Odoi was sent off for a second booking, only for Filippo Terracciano to produce a fine save in stoppage time.

Fiorentina has now reached a European club competition final for the sixth time. Brugge's last appearance at a continental final was in 1978 when it lost to Liverpool in the European Cup title match.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Brugge's Maxim De Cuyper, left, heads the ball as Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez, second left, defends during the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Players celebrate after Brugge's Maxim De Cuyper scored the opening goal during the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Fiorentina's goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano, right, reaches out for a save during an attempt by Brugge's Igor Thiago during the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Fiorentina's Lucas Beltran, right, goes after the ball with Brugge's Hugo Vetlesen during the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Fiorentina's Lucas Martinez Quarta, left, goes up against Brugge's Igor Thiago during the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Fiorentina's head coach Vincenzo Italiano, right, during the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Brugge's Hugo Vetlesen, left, fights for the ball with Fiorentina's Lucas Beltran, center, during the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Fiorentina's Lucas Beltran, center, shoots a penalty shot during the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Fiorentina's Lucas Beltran, left, celebrates after scoring his sides first goal on a penalty during the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Fiorentina at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)