Los Angeles Clippers stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard did a solid job guarding Dallas Mavericks second-year sensation Luka Doncic in Thursday's win down in Orlando, Florida.
Doncic finished with a stellar stat line of 29 points, three rebounds and six assists. However, the youngster had recorded three consecutive triple-doubles before this game against the Clippers, including games in which he scored 40 and 34 points. He also only took six free throws against LA, about three below his season average.
The Clippers and Mavs will most likely face each other in the first round of the 2020 playoffs. With that said, after LA's victory over Dallas on Thursday, George talked about what it takes to slow down Doncic:
“It’s a guy that you have to game plan around,” Paul George said about defending Luka Doncic, via The Athletic.
“I mean, you see it tonight, how he just constantly put pressure on us. But I think this team, we have so many defenders, we got so many guys, it’s just tough over a full game where you have to go through defender after defender. At some point, you get worn down. He ended up with a big stat line tonight. I think we made it as tough as possible for him.”
Leonard revealed more of the Clippers' strategy:
“Just showing bodies, bodies in front of him,” Kawhi Leonard added. “He’s a great passer, can get to the hole, gets to the free-throw line, shoots the 3 well. He has the whole package so we’ve got to be ready.”
The Clippers have a few bodies they can throw at Doncic on defense during a seven-game series. But when the game is close in the fourth quarter, expect Leonard or George to be sticking the Wonderboy.
The Clippers are back in action on Saturday when they take on Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.
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