NBA PLAYOFFS: Western Conference playoff series: LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida- Clippers roll past Mavericks 154-111 to take 3-2 series lead

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA (AP) — Paul George finally found his way.

The All-Star guard scored 35 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled past the Dallas Mavericks 154-111 yesterday to take a 3-2 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

George had shot 29 per cent in the series and endured fans’ wrath on social media. He said he spoke to the team psychiatrist before Game 5.

“I mean, whatever it was, the bubble got the best of me,” George said. “I was just in a dark place. I really wasn’t here. I checked out. The past couple of games, it was just difficult.”

George said it didn’t feel like the playoffs until his teammates decided to create the atmosphere that was lacking inside the NBA’s Walt Disney World bubble.

“I came in with that mindset that this is Staples, we’re at home,” he said. “The place is packed. I really had to psych myself up. I thought the whole team took that and we ran with it. We created our own energy. We decided to dictate this game.”

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Kawhi Leonard scored 32 points and Montrezl Harrell added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who set a franchise record for points in a playoff game. Los Angeles can clinch the series tonight.

Dallas’ Luka Doncic, who hit a game-winner at the buzzer in Game 4 to cap off a 43-point triple-double, was held to 22 points on six-for-17 shooting.

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle was ejected in the third quarter of the testy game, which included six technicals and a flagrant-1 foul. Doncic said Clippers forward Marcus Morris might have stepped on his ankle intentionally early in the third quarter.

“I don’t want to talk to him,” Doncic said.

“He’s just saying a lot of bad stuff to me all the game. I don’t want to talk to him. I’ve just got to move on. Like I said, everybody’s going to have their own opinion. I just hope it wasn’t intentional. If that was intentional, that’s very bad.”

Mavericks centre Kristaps Porzingis sat out with right knee soreness. It was the second straight game the seven-foot-three Latvian missed.

Leonard scored 22 points and Paul George scored 18 to help Los Angeles take a 76-52 lead at halftime. The Clippers shot 61 per cent in the first half and led by as many as 27 points.

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The Clippers continued the onslaught in the second half, bumping the lead to as many as 45 points.

“Tough game,” Carlisle said. “Very poor performance by us. It was disappointing. It was very physical. We just need to have a stronger physical disposition to start the game and throughout. We’ve got to get some more traction at both ends of the floor.”