Game ID: 22501029
LA Clippers @ Dallas Mavericks
Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 8:30 PM ET
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
DAL 42 30 27 23 9 131LAC 32 31 37 22 16 138
DAL vs LAC ScoutingDAL vs LAC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DAL availability going into 3/13 · back-to-backOUT Poulakidas missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Cisse missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Flagg back 3/05 after 8, 30 min since (90% of 34)
BACK Marshall back 3/05 after 2, 25 min since (84% of 30)
BACK Bagley III back 3/08 after 5, 20 min since (92% of 21)
DAL availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Poulakidas missed 6 since 3/05, returns tonight: 15 min (75% of 20)
OUT Cisse missed 4 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Bagley III back 3/08 after 5, 22 min since (101% of 21)
DAL availability going into 3/16 · back-to-backOUT Gafford missed 2 since 3/13, out tonight
OUT Cisse missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Bagley III back 3/08 after 5, 20 min since (96% of 21)
BACK Poulakidas back 3/15 after 6, 15 min since (75% of 20)
DAL availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Gafford missed 3 since 3/13, returns tonight: 22 min (103% of 22)
OUT Thompson missed 2 since 3/15, returns tonight: 22 min (101% of 22)
OUT Cisse missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Poulakidas back 3/15 after 6, 16 min since (83% of 20)
DAL availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Martin missed 2 since 3/16, out tonight
OUT Cisse missed 7 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Gafford back 3/18 after 3, 22 min since (103% of 22)
BACK Thompson back 3/18 after 2, 22 min since (101% of 22)
BACK Poulakidas back 3/15 after 6, 16 min since (83% of 20)
DAL availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Poulakidas missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 12 min (61% of 20)
OUT Martin missed 3 since 3/16, not on tonight's roster
OUT Cisse missed 8 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 14)
BACK Gafford back 3/18 after 3, 24 min since (109% of 22)
BACK Thompson back 3/18 after 2, 24 min since (113% of 22)
NEW Nembhard 20 to 27 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 3 since 3/18, returns tonight: 19 min (87% of 22)
OUT Powell missed 2 since 3/21, returns tonight: 16 min (115% of 14)
OUT Cisse missed 9 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 2 since 3/21, out tonight
BACK Gafford back 3/18 after 3, 26 min since (121% of 22)
BACK Thompson back 3/18 after 2, 26 min since (118% of 22)
BACK Poulakidas back 3/15 after 6, 15 min since (76% of 20)
BACK Smith back 3/23 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 14)
NEW Nembhard 20 to 25 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Cisse missed 10 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 3 since 3/21, returns tonight: 10 min (96% of 10)
BACK Williams back 3/25 after 3, 19 min since (87% of 22)
BACK Gafford back 3/18 after 3, 26 min since (121% of 22)
BACK Thompson back 3/18 after 2, 22 min since (100% of 22)
BACK Poulakidas back 3/23 after 2, 11 min since (54% of 20)
BACK Powell back 3/25 after 2, 16 min since (115% of 14)
BACK Smith back 3/23 after 2, 7 min since (51% of 14)
DAL availability going into 3/30 · 2 days' restOUT Gafford missed 2 since 3/25, returns tonight: 24 min (112% of 22)
OUT Cisse missed 11 since 3/08, out tonight
BACK Williams back 3/25 after 3, 20 min since (89% of 22)
BACK Thompson back 3/18 after 2, 21 min since (97% of 22)
BACK Poulakidas back 3/23 after 2, 11 min since (54% of 20)
BACK Powell back 3/25 after 2, 19 min since (130% of 14)
BACK Smith back 3/23 after 2, 8 min since (56% of 14)
BACK Johnson back 3/27 after 3, 10 min since (96% of 10)
LAC availability going into 3/14 · back-to-backOUT Collins missed 7 since 3/02, returns tonight: 20 min (74% of 27)
OUT Bogdanović missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
NEW Jones Jr. 27 to 32 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Bogdanović missed 9 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 20 min since (74% of 27)
LAC availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Bogdanović missed 10 since 3/01, returns tonight: 5 min (24% of 20)
BACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 23 min since (84% of 27)
LAC availability going into 3/19 · back-to-backBACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 23 min since (86% of 27)
BACK Bogdanović back 3/18 after 10, 5 min since (24% of 20)
LAC availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Batum missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 20 min (117% of 18)
BACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 24 min since (90% of 27)
BACK Bogdanović back 3/18 after 10, 16 min since (81% of 20)
NEW Miller 22 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Lopez 22 to 27 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
BACK Collins back 3/14 after 7, 25 min since (93% of 27)
BACK Bogdanović back 3/18 after 10, 16 min since (81% of 20)
BACK Batum back 3/21 after 2, 20 min since (117% of 18)
NEW Lopez 22 to 28 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Mathurin missed 4 since 3/18, returns tonight: 27 min (96% of 28)
BACK Bogdanović back 3/18 after 10, 13 min since (67% of 20)
BACK Batum back 3/21 after 2, 21 min since (119% of 18)
NEW Lopez 22 to 28 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restBACK Mathurin back 3/25 after 4, 27 min since (96% of 28)
BACK Bogdanović back 3/18 after 10, 13 min since (67% of 20)
BACK Batum back 3/21 after 2, 19 min since (107% of 18)
NEW Lopez 22 to 28 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Bogdanović missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Mathurin back 3/25 after 4, 28 min since (100% of 28)
BACK Batum back 3/21 after 2, 18 min since (101% of 18)
NEW Lopez 22 to 29 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Flagg at 21 and Washington at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Mathurin at 22 a game. That is 4 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Mathurin (2 straight), Batum (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-7 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 115 a night to Dallas's 127. Call it Dallas 117, the Clippers 116, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/13 vs CLE 105-138 — DAL notes
DAL lost 105-138. DAL shot 44% (38 of 87) to CLE's 62%, 9 of 33 from three, and went to the line 24 times to CLE's 13 — 20 points from the stripe to their 8. Flagg led with 25 (8 of 16, 1 of 3 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Marshall added 17, Christie 12. Q2 was theirs, 29-29, but the other 3 periods went 109-76 against them. Thompson's -27 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/15 @ CLE 130-120 — DAL notes
DAL won 130-120. DAL shot 53% (46 of 87) to CLE's 51%, 15 of 30 from three, and went to the line 27 times to CLE's 21 — 23 points from the stripe to their 14. Flagg led with 27 (10 of 17, 1 of 3 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Marshall added 25, Washington 20. The hinge was Q3, 40-27: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 21. Washington was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/16 @ NOP 111-129 — DAL notes
DAL lost 111-129. DAL took 9 more shots (104 to 95), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to NOP's 51%, 14 of 39 from three, and got to the line 14 times to NOP's 34. Marshall led with 32 (12 of 24, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Flagg added 21, Washington 18. Q4 was theirs, 25-26, but the other 3 periods went 103-86 against them. They led by as many as 10. Middleton's -20 in 18 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 vs ATL 120-135 — DAL notes
DAL lost 120-135. DAL shot 49% (42 of 86) to ATL's 54%, 11 of 28 from three, and went to the line 29 times to ATL's 14 — 25 points from the stripe to their 11. DAL turned it over 18 times to ATL's 11, and ATL turned those into 10 steals. Gafford led with 24 (9 of 10, 6 of 7 at the line); Washington added 23, Flagg 17. Q4 was theirs, 38-34, the deficit cut from 19 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 101-82 against them. Nembhard's -18 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 vs LAC 131-138 — DAL notes
DAL lost 131-138 in 1 overtime. DAL took 12 more shots (102 to 90), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to LAC's 57%, 13 of 34 from three, and went to the line 29 times to LAC's 18 — 22 points from the stripe to their 15. Marshall led with 28 (11 of 23, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Washington added 21, Flagg 18. Q1 was theirs, 42-32, but the other 4 periods went 106-89 against them. They led by as many as 12. Marshall's -19 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 132, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Flagg at 22 and Marshall at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Williams (2 straight), Poulakidas (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Melton at 16 and Payton II at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Ste. Curry (21 straight), Moody (10 straight), Horford (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Golden State allowing 118 a night to Dallas's 132 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 19 times a game to Dallas's 14. Call it Dallas 118, Golden State 117, Golden State keeping it close.
3/25 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murray at 21 and Jokić at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 132, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Flagg at 23 and Marshall at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Williams (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 114 a night to Dallas's 132 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and Dallas minus-3. Call it Denver 124, Dallas 117.
3/27 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Avdija at 23 and Clingan at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Sharpe (22 straight), Krejčí (6 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 136, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Flagg at 23 and Marshall at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 110 a night to Dallas's 136 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-11 a night and Dallas minus-5. Call it Portland 125, Dallas 115, Portland by 10.
3/30 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 129, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Flagg at 23 and Marshall at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Gafford (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; McDaniels at 19 and Dosunmu at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Edwards (6 straight), Dosunmu (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 106 a night to Dallas's 129 and the line, where Dallas takes 28 free throws a game to Minnesota's 23. Call it Minnesota 118, Dallas 115, Dallas keeping it close.
3/14 vs SAC 109-118 — LAC notes
LAC lost 109-118. LAC shot 46% (39 of 84) to SAC's 59%, 9 of 27 from three, and went to the line 29 times to SAC's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 10. LAC turned it over 13 times to SAC's 19. The glass went 35-48 against them. Leonard led with 31 (13 of 23, 2 of 6 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Garland added 25, Mathurin 24. Q4 was theirs, 34-26, the deficit cut from 17 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 92-75 against them. Jones Jr.'s -16 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs SAS 115-119 — LAC notes
LAC lost 115-119. LAC shot 48% (43 of 89) to SAS's 46%, 11 of 29 from three. The glass went 37-52 against them. Garland led with 25 (9 of 21, 4 of 9 from three); Miller added 22, Mathurin 16. Q1 was theirs, 37-29, but the other 3 periods went 90-78 against them. They led by as many as 14. Collins's -18 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 @ NOP 109-124 — LAC notes
LAC lost 109-124. LAC shot 51% (45 of 88) to NOP's 53%, 9 of 31 from three, and got to the line 13 times to NOP's 21. Leonard led with 25 (9 of 12, 4 of 6 from three); Collins added 18, Garland 13. Q1 was theirs, 40-26, but the other 3 periods went 98-69 against them. They led by as many as 18. Miller's -15 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 @ NOP 99-105 — LAC notes
LAC lost 99-105. LAC shot 46% (35 of 76) to NOP's 47%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 32 times to NOP's 22 — 19 points from the stripe to their 18. Jones Jr. led with 22 (7 of 11, 7 of 7 at the line); Collins added 18, Bogdanović 16. Q3 was theirs, 32-32, but the other 3 periods went 73-67 against them. Miller's -17 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 @ DAL 138-131 — LAC notes
LAC won 138-131 in 1 overtime. LAC shot 57% (51 of 90) to DAL's 47%, 21 of 42 from three, and got to the line 18 times to DAL's 29. Garland led with 41 (15 of 24, 8 of 12 from three); Leonard added 34, Jones Jr. 15. The hinge was Q3, 37-27: LAC came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 1. LAC trailed 63-72 at the half and won the second half 75-59. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/23 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Garland at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Mathurin (3 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Rollins at 20 and Portis at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 117, Milwaukee 112.
3/25 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and Garland at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Mathurin (4 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 117, shooting 54 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Ingram at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-0 a night and the Clippers minus-6 and the line, where Toronto takes 27 free throws a game to the Clippers' 21. Call it the Clippers 117, Toronto 114, Toronto keeping it close.
3/27 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 132, shooting 53 percent and 44 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Nembhard at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Slawson (3 straight), Thompson (7 straight), Jones (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 28 and Garland at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 110 a night to Indiana's 132 and the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-3 a night and Indiana minus-11. Call it the Clippers 120, Indiana 115.
3/29 @ MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 124, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 16 free throws a game; Rollins at 20 and Dieng at 12 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Porter Jr. (5 straight), Kuzma (3 straight), Portis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and Garland at 28 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 108 a night to Milwaukee's 124 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 18 times a game to the Clippers' 12. Call it the Clippers 118, Milwaukee 108, the Clippers by 10.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DALCF C. Flagg
DG D. Gafford
KM K. Middleton
KT K. Thompson
MB M. Bagley III
MC M. Christie
NM N. Marshall
PW P. Washington
RN R. Nembhard
LACBL B. Lopez
DG D. Garland
DJ D. Jones Jr.
IJ I. Jackson
JC J. Collins
JM J. Miller
KD K. Dunn
KL K. Leonard
NB N. Batum
DAL/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Garland scores 41 and Leonard adds 34 as Clippers extend Mavs' home losing streak to 11 games
DALLAS -- — Darius Garland scored a season-high 41 points, Kawhi Leonard added 34 with a tying bucket late in regulation and the Los Angeles Clippers beat Dallas 138-131 in overtime on Saturday night, extending the Mavericks’ longest home losing streak in 32 years to 11 games.
Derrick Jones Jr . scored 15 points with a pair of 3-pointers in the extra period, and Garland had 11 assists as the Clippers ended a four-game skid that followed a four-game winning streak.
Los Angeles pulled even with Portland for eighth in the Western Conference. Both teams are safely in the mix for the play-in tournament.
Naji Marshall scored 28 points for the Mavericks, who are on their longest skid at the 25-year old American Airlines Center. Dallas had home losing streaks of 19 and 12 games during the 1993-94 season at since-demolished Reunion Arena.
Marshall's steal and assist for P.J. Washington 's dunk put Dallas ahead 122-120, but Leonard scored after a timeout to get the Clippers even with 19 seconds to go.
Cooper Flagg , who scored 18 points, missed a jumper in the final seconds, and Washington was just late when he swished a jumper after grabbing an offensive rebound. Washington scored 21 points.
Garland also had a season high with eight 3-pointers, the last following one from Jones that put Los Angeles ahead for good at 125-124 in overtime. A bucket from Leonard and another 3 from Jones put the Clippers up by nine.
Leonard, who has alternated between playing and sitting over the past four games while nursing a sprained left ankle, played 36 minutes, including all of overtime.
Flagg, the rookie No. 1 pick, had nine rebounds and seven assists while matching his season high with four blocked shots.