Clippers-Mavericks: 5 takeaways from Dallas' defensive-minded Game 3 victory

[{"selector":"#anim-7dd44230-7522-4703-ad41-fb1e2e1afa3b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b658756b-6d07-4701-89d9-c6924df92ef4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.84931%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Daniel Gafford's defiant rejection at the rim epitomized Dallas' refusal to yield on their home court.

[{"selector":"#anim-1ac9ea72-95d7-4632-aa7d-4f1f5b1c532c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86a37b35-7b51-4292-974e-b17a1ad6b4fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.84931%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A game-time decision, Gafford's resilience spoke volumes: "Not here. Not tonight.

[{"selector":"#anim-7cc41b7a-37aa-4c4c-8fff-1ea5440a801e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd2b25ea-3dee-4fec-a513-b33dca93b1e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.69231%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dallas delivered a resounding message to LA, securing a 2-1 series lead with a commanding 101-90 victory.

[{"selector":"#anim-4fcb8125-371e-4540-bd69-8734efe8853d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-573f88ac-f82b-4d83-83a1-46e99eff82e0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.30137%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Luka Doncic's subdued scoring masked his significant impact, guiding Dallas to a pivotal Game 3 triumph.

[{"selector":"#anim-34f4a6eb-186e-4ded-b339-91261bdf14b0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4919f6b9-f274-4aec-83bf-7f94c187656d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.12329%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Kyrie Irving's second-half surge propelled the Mavericks, highlighting their depth and versatility in the face of adversity

[{"selector":"#anim-6cc48bf3-00c5-4781-9899-bbdd5d76ca58","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6071ce4f-96ac-4de0-8250-440c3a96125b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dallas' lob-filled assault showcased their dominance in the paint, establishing a formidable presence that the Clippers struggled to contain.