The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 130-122, in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal-round playoff series Friday night in Orlando. The Clippers lead the series, 2-1.

The game began as a defensive slugfest, with the two squads entering the second quarter knotted up at 23 points. However, the Clippers (2-1) found their stroke at that point, outscoring the Mavericks (1-2) by a 79-62 margin over the middle periods to pick up some much-needed distance. Their efforts were aided by Luka Doncic's troublesome ankle, which forced him from the game for good in the latter portion of the third quarter. Dallas would continue battling until the closing minutes, when an Ivica Zubac alley-oop dunk off a Paul George assist pushed Los Angeles' lead back to double digits for good.

Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Clippers with 36 points, adding nine rebounds, eight assists, two steals and one block. Landry Shamet was a distant second with 18 points, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the third quarter, along with three rebounds, one steal and one block. Zubac finished with 15 points, six boards and one block, while Marcus Morris delivered 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Montrezl Harrell furnished 13 points, and Paul George compiled 11 on 3-for-16 shooting. He also posted nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

Kristaps Porzingis paced the Mavericks with 34 points, complementing them with 13 rebounds, one assist and one block. Tim Hardaway and Seth Curry managed matching 22-point tallies, with Hardaway also totaling six boards. Doncic provided a 13-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double over 29 minutes before departing. Dorian Finney-Smith supplied 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one steal.

The two teams will reconvene on Sunday afternoon in Orlando for Game 4.