The Los Angeles Clippers emerged victorious with a hard-fought 109-97 win over the Mavs in Game 1
Despite Kawhi Leonard's absence, the Clippers dominated, leading by as much as 29 points.
Mavs guard Kyrie Irving acknowledged the challenge of adjusting without Leonard: 'Guys were making shots, hitting threes.
Game 2 returns to Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, with the series shifting to Dallas for Game 3 and 4.
Clippers' early aggression led to a commanding 34-22 lead after the first quarter.
The Mavs struggled in the second quarter, scoring only 8 points on 2-of-21 shooting