Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers Match Player Stats
The dallas mavericks vs la clippers match player stats from March 22, 2026, tell the story of a high-scoring NBA contest that required overtime to separate the two teams. The LA Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 138-131 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, with Darius Garland scoring 41 points and Kawhi Leonard adding 34. Dallas produced a strong offensive performance of its own, led by Naji Marshall’s 28 points, but the Clippers’ shooting efficiency and ability to create scoring opportunities proved decisive. The game also featured a notable contrast in team strengths: Los Angeles converted 21 three-pointers, while Dallas collected 47 rebounds, including 17 offensive boards.
This matchup offers more than a final score. The quarter-by-quarter results, individual player contributions, shooting percentages, assists, turnovers, and rebounding totals help explain how the game developed and why the Clippers emerged victorious. Examining these numbers provides a clearer picture of the performances that shaped the result.
Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers Match Player Stats: Game Overview
The March 22 matchup brought together two teams with different statistical strengths. Dallas generated additional possessions through offensive rebounding, while Los Angeles made better use of its shooting opportunities. The contest remained competitive through regulation before the Clippers outscored the Mavericks 16-9 in overtime.
| Game detail | Information |
| Matchup | Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers |
| Date | March 22, 2026 |
| Venue | American Airlines Center |
| Location | Dallas, Texas |
| Attendance | 19,365 |
| Final score | Clippers 138, Mavericks 131 |
| Game status | Final, overtime |
| Clippers record shown | 35-36 |
| Mavericks record shown | 23-48 |
| Clippers leading scorer | Darius Garland, 41 points |
| Mavericks leading scorer | Naji Marshall, 28 points |
| Clippers field-goal percentage | 57% |
| Mavericks field-goal percentage | 47% |
| Clippers three-pointers | 21 of 42 |
| Mavericks offensive rebounds | 17 |
Los Angeles won despite Dallas collecting seven more total rebounds. That detail matters because rebounding often helps teams control possession volume, but more possessions do not automatically produce more points. The Clippers converted a greater proportion of their field-goal attempts and connected on 50% of their three-point attempts.
Dallas also made 22 free throws, compared with 15 for Los Angeles. However, the Mavericks’ advantage at the free-throw line was not enough to overcome the Clippers’ superior shooting from the field.
The supplied ESPN box-score information identifies the game as an overtime victory for Los Angeles. Player and team figures in this article are based on the supplied statistics. Readers seeking the original game record can consult the official ESPN box score.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring Breakdown
The scoring progression explains why a game that initially appeared to favor Dallas eventually went to overtime.
| Quarter | LA Clippers | Dallas Mavericks |
| First quarter | 32 | 42 |
| Second quarter | 31 | 30 |
| Third quarter | 37 | 27 |
| Fourth quarter | 22 | 23 |
| Overtime | 16 | 9 |
| Final score | 138 | 131 |
First Quarter: Dallas Establishes an Early Lead
Dallas opened with 42 points in the first quarter, building a 10-point advantage over the Clippers. Scoring 42 points in a single period is a substantial offensive output, and it gave the Mavericks an early opportunity to control the game’s tempo.
Los Angeles scored 32 points in the same period. Although that was a productive quarter, the Clippers needed to improve their defensive resistance and find ways to close the gap.
The early score also established a pattern that continued throughout the game: both offenses were capable of producing points quickly, but Dallas initially generated the larger scoring burst.
Second Quarter: The Clippers Begin to Respond
Los Angeles scored 31 points in the second quarter, one more than Dallas. The Mavericks still entered halftime with a 72-63 lead, but the Clippers had prevented the deficit from growing.
The second quarter was important because it gave Los Angeles a chance to stabilize after the opening period. Rather than trying to erase the entire deficit in one stretch, the Clippers gradually reduced the gap through sustained scoring.
Dallas remained productive, scoring 30 points, but it did not repeat its dominant opening-quarter margin.
Third Quarter: Los Angeles Takes Control of the Scoring Battle
The third quarter was the game’s major turning point. The Clippers scored 37 points while holding Dallas to 27, producing a 10-point advantage in the period.
That swing erased the Mavericks’ nine-point halftime lead and gave Los Angeles a one-point advantage entering the fourth quarter, 100-99.
The quarter demonstrates why individual scoring totals need to be considered alongside team performance. Garland and Leonard’s offensive production was part of a broader team effort that included efficient shooting and ball movement. Los Angeles was no longer simply trying to catch Dallas; it had moved ahead.
Fourth Quarter: The Teams Reach a Deadlock
Dallas scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, narrowly exceeding the Clippers’ 22. The small margin was enough to bring the teams level at 122-122 after regulation.
The Mavericks managed to recover from the third-quarter setback, but they could not build a decisive lead. Los Angeles, meanwhile, stayed close enough to force overtime despite scoring less than it had in the previous two periods.
Overtime: The Clippers Finish Stronger
In overtime, Los Angeles scored 16 points while Dallas managed nine. The seven-point difference in the extra period matched the final margin of victory.
Overtime performance often highlights the importance of shot selection, execution, and possession management. In this game, the Clippers produced the stronger scoring output when the contest was most finely balanced.
Dallas had competed through four quarters and forced extra time, but it could not maintain the same scoring pace in the additional period.
Complete Team Statistics Comparison
The overall team numbers provide the clearest explanation of how Los Angeles won despite Dallas having the rebounding advantage.
| Statistical category | LA Clippers | Dallas Mavericks |
| Points | 138 | 131 |
| Field goals made | 51 | 48 |
| Field-goal attempts | 90 | 102 |
| Field-goal percentage | 57% | 47% |
| Three-pointers made | 21 | 13 |
| Three-point attempts | 42 | 34 |
| Three-point percentage | 50% | 38% |
| Free throws made | 15 | 22 |
| Free-throw attempts | 18 | 29 |
| Free-throw percentage | 83% | 76% |
| Total rebounds | 40 | 47 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 17 |
| Defensive rebounds | 34 | 30 |
| Assists | 33 | 25 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 10 |
| Steals | 8 | 5 |
| Blocks | 10 | 6 |
| Personal fouls | 22 | 16 |
Source: Supplied ESPN box-score data. Percentages are reported as provided and may be rounded.
Shooting Efficiency: The Defining Statistical Difference
The most striking difference was field-goal efficiency. The Clippers made 51 of 90 attempts, while Dallas converted 48 of 102.
Los Angeles attempted 12 fewer shots but made three more field goals. Its 57% field-goal percentage compared with Dallas’s 47% indicates that the Clippers extracted more scoring value from their attempts.
This distinction is particularly important in a game with a high final score. Teams can generate a large number of shots and still fall short if they miss too many attempts. Dallas created opportunities, but Los Angeles finished a greater share of its possessions with successful field goals.
The Clippers also made eight more field goals than Dallas from beyond the arc. That difference had an outsized effect because three-pointers are worth an additional point compared with two-point field goals.
Three-Point Shooting: Eight Extra Makes
Los Angeles converted 21 of 42 three-point attempts, an excellent 50% shooting rate. Dallas made 13 of 34 attempts, approximately 38%.
The Clippers therefore scored 63 points from three-point shots, compared with Dallas’s 39. That represents a 24-point difference in three-point scoring.
The distinction does not mean three-point shooting alone explains every part of the result. The Mavericks scored more points at the free-throw line and secured more rebounds. Nevertheless, the perimeter shooting gap was large enough to offset several of Dallas’s advantages.
There is also a useful analytical distinction between three-point volume and three-point accuracy. Los Angeles attempted more threes and converted them at a higher rate. Dallas did not merely lose because it took fewer attempts; it also made a smaller percentage of those attempts.
Free Throws: Dallas Wins This Category
Dallas converted 22 of 29 free throws, compared with 15 of 18 for the Clippers.
That gave the Mavericks seven more successful free throws. In a seven-point final, this advantage was meaningful, but it was not sufficient to compensate for the difference in field-goal production.
The numbers also show that Dallas reached the line more often. That may reflect differences in driving opportunities, defensive contact, or the types of shots each team attempted. The box-score totals alone cannot establish which specific tactical factor caused the difference.
Rebounding: Dallas Creates Additional Opportunities
The Mavericks recorded 47 rebounds, seven more than Los Angeles. Their biggest advantage came on the offensive glass.
Dallas collected 17 offensive rebounds, while the Clippers recorded six. This 11-rebound difference indicates that the Mavericks repeatedly recovered missed shots and created opportunities for additional possessions.
Offensive rebounds can be particularly valuable because they allow a team to continue an attack after an unsuccessful field-goal attempt. They may also create opportunities for putbacks, kick-out passes, and second-chance three-pointers.
However, offensive rebounds are not equivalent to guaranteed points. A team must still convert the resulting opportunity. Dallas’s rebounding advantage was substantial, yet its lower field-goal efficiency limited the overall benefit.
Assists and Turnovers: Ball Movement Favors Los Angeles
The Clippers recorded 33 assists, compared with 25 for Dallas. Both teams protected the ball reasonably closely in terms of total turnovers, with Los Angeles committing 11 and Dallas committing 10.
The eight-assist difference is notable. Assists can reflect successful passing sequences that create open shots, although they do not measure every aspect of offensive organization.
Combined with the shooting percentages, the assist total suggests that Los Angeles was effective at turning offensive movement into made baskets. Dallas generated more rebounding opportunities, but the Clippers produced more assisted scoring and converted shots at a higher rate.
The turnover figures, meanwhile, show that Dallas did not lose because of a large turnover disadvantage. The teams finished only one turnover apart.
Defensive Events: Blocks and Steals
Los Angeles recorded 10 blocks and eight steals, while Dallas finished with six blocks and five steals.
These figures show that the Clippers accumulated more recorded defensive events. Blocks can prevent shots from reaching the basket, while steals can disrupt an opponent’s possession and sometimes create transition opportunities.
However, raw totals do not establish the quality of every defensive possession. A blocked shot may remain with the attacking team, and a steal does not always lead to a score. These statistics are most useful when read alongside the final result, shooting efficiency, and turnover numbers.
LA Clippers Player Stats and Individual Performances
Los Angeles had two major scoring contributors in the supplied box-score data: Darius Garland and Kawhi Leonard. Their point totals accounted for a substantial share of the team’s offense.
Darius Garland: 41 Points and 11 Assists
Garland led all listed scorers with 41 points and also recorded 11 assists. His scoring and playmaking combination was central to the Clippers’ offensive output.
The 41 points demonstrate his ability to generate offense at a high level. The 11 assists add another dimension to his contribution because they show that his performance was not limited to finishing possessions himself.
A player who scores heavily and creates opportunities for teammates can put pressure on a defense in two different ways. Defenders must account for his scoring threat while also preventing him from finding open teammates.
Garland’s assist total also fits the team’s overall figure of 33 assists. Although the box-score totals do not identify every offensive sequence, the numbers are consistent with a Clippers attack that generated scoring through both individual creation and passing.
His performance is particularly significant in the context of the overtime result. Los Angeles needed sustained offensive production to overcome Dallas’s early lead and then win the extra period.
Kawhi Leonard: 34 Points
Leonard scored 34 points, providing a second major scoring option alongside Garland.
Having two players reach at least 30 points can make an offense more difficult to contain. A defense cannot focus exclusively on one scorer without risking opportunities for the other.
Leonard’s 34 points also meant that Garland did not have to carry the entire scoring burden. The Clippers could rely on two high-volume contributors while other players supported the offense through additional scoring, passing, rebounding, and defense.
The supplied data does not include Leonard’s complete shooting breakdown, so it would be inaccurate to assign a specific field-goal percentage or number of three-pointers to his performance here.
Brook Lopez: Nine Rebounds
Brook Lopez led the listed Clippers starters with nine rebounds. His contribution was important in a game where Dallas established a clear advantage on the offensive glass.
The team rebounding totals show that Los Angeles finished with 40 rebounds overall, compared with Dallas’s 47. That difference suggests the Clippers had to contend with repeated second-chance opportunities from the Mavericks.
Lopez’s nine rebounds were a meaningful individual contribution, but the team figures also show that rebounding remained an area in which Dallas performed better collectively.
Isaiah Jackson and Jordan Miller: Bench Contributions
Isaiah Jackson scored 10 points, and Jordan Miller also contributed 10 points off the bench.
Bench production can help a team sustain its scoring while starters rest or face defensive adjustments. In an overtime contest, those contributions may become especially relevant because the game extends beyond the usual four quarters.
The supplied statistics establish that both players reached double figures. They do not provide enough detail to calculate their individual shooting efficiency, minutes played, or precise impact during specific stretches.
What the Clippers’ Player Numbers Reveal
The leading individual figures point to three complementary aspects of the performance:
- Scoring: Garland and Leonard combined for 75 points.
- Playmaking: Garland recorded 11 assists, contributing to the team’s 33 total assists.
- Supporting production: Jackson and Miller each added 10 points, while Lopez recorded nine rebounds.
Together, these numbers describe a performance built around high-level scoring from the leading players and useful contributions from the supporting cast.
Dallas Mavericks Player Stats and Individual Performances
Dallas had several players contribute meaningful scoring, with Naji Marshall leading the team. The Mavericks also received production from P.J. Washington, Cooper Flagg, Daniel Gafford, and several bench players.
Naji Marshall: 28 Points
Marshall led Dallas with 28 points. His scoring output helped the Mavericks establish their early advantage and remain competitive through regulation.
The Mavericks finished with 131 points, so Marshall accounted for a little over one-fifth of the team’s total scoring. His contribution was significant, particularly in a game in which Dallas needed multiple players to produce against a high-scoring opponent.
Marshall’s total also illustrates why the final result should not be interpreted as an absence of offensive quality from Dallas. The Mavericks scored 42 points in the opening quarter and reached overtime. Their problem was not an inability to generate points; it was that the Clippers converted their attempts more efficiently over the full game.
P.J. Washington: 21 Points
Washington finished with 21 points, giving Dallas another player who crossed the 20-point mark.
His scoring helped spread the offensive responsibility beyond Marshall. Multiple contributors can make an offense less predictable because the opposition must defend more than one scoring threat.
However, the supplied statistics do not specify Washington’s shooting splits or point distribution by quarter. It is therefore not possible to establish exactly when his scoring was most influential or how efficiently he produced those points.
Cooper Flagg: 18 Points and Eight Assists
Flagg scored 18 points and recorded eight assists, making him an important contributor in both scoring and playmaking.
His assist total was the highest listed for Dallas. That role mattered because the Mavericks finished with 25 assists overall, eight fewer than Los Angeles.
Flagg’s numbers indicate that he contributed to the creation of scoring opportunities as well as finishing them. In a game where Dallas had 48 made field goals, his passing was part of the team’s offensive organization.
The figures do not include his complete shooting line, turnovers, or minutes played, so a more detailed assessment of his efficiency would require the full player-level box score.
Daniel Gafford: 13 Rebounds
Gafford led Dallas with 13 rebounds. His total was particularly relevant because the Mavericks collected 17 offensive rebounds as a team.
The team’s offensive-rebounding advantage suggests that Dallas repeatedly found ways to recover missed attempts. Gafford’s 13 total rebounds show that he was a major contributor to the team’s work on the glass, although the supplied figures do not separate his personal rebounds into offensive and defensive categories.
Dallas’s overall rebounding advantage was one of the most important features of the game. It helped the Mavericks maintain additional opportunities even while shooting less accurately than Los Angeles.
Marvin Bagley III: 17 Points
Bagley contributed 17 points from the bench, giving Dallas another substantial scoring option.
His production was valuable in a game that demanded consistent offense across multiple quarters. Dallas could not rely exclusively on its leading scorer, and Bagley’s total demonstrates that scoring support came from beyond the starting group.
A 17-point contribution does not by itself establish shooting efficiency or defensive impact, but it does confirm that the bench provided meaningful points.
Ryan Nembhard: 13 Points
Nembhard scored 13 points, adding further depth to Dallas’s scoring distribution.
The Mavericks’ bench scoring was important because the team had several players reach double figures. That spread of production helped Dallas reach 131 points, despite losing the overall shooting-efficiency battle.
Without complete individual shooting and minutes data, however, it would be inappropriate to rank Nembhard’s performance against other bench players on efficiency alone.
Klay Thompson: 12 Points
Thompson added 12 points from the bench. His contribution increased the Mavericks’ available scoring options and helped prevent the offensive load from resting entirely on Marshall and Washington.
The supplied team statistics show that Dallas made 13 three-pointers overall, but they do not specify Thompson’s individual three-point makes or attempts. His exact perimeter contribution should therefore not be inferred from the team total.
What Dallas’s Player Numbers Reveal
The Mavericks’ listed performances show a balanced scoring effort and strong work on the glass:
- Leading scorer: Marshall with 28 points.
- Secondary scoring: Washington with 21 points and Flagg with 18.
- Playmaking: Flagg recorded eight assists.
- Rebounding: Gafford collected 13 rebounds.
- Bench production: Bagley scored 17, Nembhard 13, and Thompson 12.
Dallas had several routes to scoring, but its 47% field-goal percentage and 38% three-point percentage left it less efficient than the Clippers. That distinction is central to understanding the result.
Head-to-Head Player Stats: Clippers vs Mavericks
Comparing the leading contributors from both teams helps clarify how their individual performances translated into the final score.
| Performance category | LA Clippers | Dallas Mavericks |
| Leading scorer | Darius Garland, 41 points | Naji Marshall, 28 points |
| Second leading scorer listed | Kawhi Leonard, 34 points | P.J. Washington, 21 points |
| Third leading scorer listed | Not specified in supplied data | Cooper Flagg, 18 points |
| Leading playmaker listed | Darius Garland, 11 assists | Cooper Flagg, 8 assists |
| Rebounding leader information | Brook Lopez, 9 rebounds among starters | Daniel Gafford, 13 rebounds |
| Notable bench scorer | Isaiah Jackson, 10 points | Marvin Bagley III, 17 points |
| Additional bench contributions | Jordan Miller, 10 points | Ryan Nembhard, 13 points; Klay Thompson, 12 points |
The comparison reveals an important distinction. Garland produced the highest individual scoring total in the game, while Dallas distributed its listed scoring among several players. Los Angeles also had the higher team assist total, which complemented its shooting advantage.
Dallas’s individual performances were substantial enough to keep the contest competitive. Marshall’s 28 points, Washington’s 21, and Flagg’s 18 gave the Mavericks three listed scorers with at least 18 points. Yet the Clippers’ two leading scorers combined for 75 points, and the team’s overall shooting efficiency provided additional support.
These figures should be interpreted as a comparison of recorded production rather than a complete ranking of player quality. Efficiency, defensive assignments, minutes, and the timing of each contribution would be needed for a more comprehensive individual evaluation.
Why the Clippers Won Despite Dallas’s Rebounding Advantage
The final score becomes easier to understand when the main statistical advantages are considered together.
1. Better field-goal accuracy
The Clippers shot 57% from the field, compared with 47% for Dallas. That 10-percentage-point difference was substantial.
Dallas attempted 102 field goals and made 48. Los Angeles attempted only 90 but made 51. The Clippers therefore converted more shots despite having fewer attempts.
This is the central statistical explanation for the result. Additional possessions can help a team, but they are less valuable when the team fails to convert enough of its attempts.
2. A major advantage in three-point scoring
Los Angeles made 21 three-pointers, eight more than Dallas. Those extra successful three-pointers produced a 24-point advantage in three-point scoring.
That difference was greater than the seven-point final margin. It illustrates how perimeter shooting can outweigh advantages in other categories.
3. More assists and offensive connection
The Clippers recorded 33 assists, while Dallas recorded 25. The higher total indicates that more of Los Angeles’s made baskets were credited as assisted plays.
Assists do not tell the entire story of an offense, but the combination of 33 assists and 57% shooting suggests that the Clippers frequently turned offensive opportunities into successful shots.
4. Dallas won the offensive rebounding battle
The Mavericks collected 17 offensive rebounds against six for Los Angeles. This was a meaningful advantage and helped Dallas remain competitive.
However, second-chance opportunities still require successful execution. Dallas’s 47% shooting percentage shows that its overall conversion rate remained below Los Angeles’s, despite the additional opportunities.
5. Overtime execution decided the contest
The score was tied at 122 after regulation. Los Angeles then scored 16 points in overtime, compared with nine for Dallas.
The extra period did not erase the importance of the preceding 48 minutes. Instead, it completed a game in which the Clippers had gradually recovered from a 10-point first-quarter deficit and taken control of the scoring battle.
What the Season Series Shows
The supplied game information lists the Clippers as leading the season series 2-1 after the March 22 contest, with another matchup listed for April 8.
| Listed matchup | Result |
| November 15 | Clippers 133, Mavericks 127, double overtime |
| November 30 | Mavericks 114, Clippers 110 |
| March 22 | Clippers 138, Mavericks 131, overtime |
| April 8 | Mavericks 103, Clippers 116 |
The April 8 result is included in the supplied data as an additional listed matchup. It should not be confused with the March 22 game analyzed throughout this article.
The season-series results show that the teams had already played multiple close games. Both the November 15 and March 22 contests went to overtime, while the November 30 meeting ended with Dallas winning by four points.
These results suggest that the matchup featured competitive scoring exchanges rather than a consistent pattern of one-sided outcomes. However, the four listed scores alone cannot establish how the teams would perform in a future game.
How to Interpret NBA Match Player Statistics Correctly
Player statistics become more useful when readers understand what each category measures and what it cannot establish on its own.
Points
Points measure a player’s direct scoring contribution. They are useful for identifying leading scorers, but they do not show how many shots a player needed to reach that total.
A player with 20 points on efficient shooting may have had a different offensive impact from a player who needed many more attempts to score the same number.
Assists
Assists record passes credited with directly setting up made baskets. They help explain how a team creates scoring opportunities, although not every effective pass results in an assist.
Garland’s 11 assists and Flagg’s eight assists show their recorded playmaking contributions in this matchup.
Rebounds
Rebounds measure the recovery of missed shots. Offensive rebounds give a team another opportunity to score, while defensive rebounds generally help end the opponent’s possession.
Dallas’s 17 offensive rebounds are particularly important because they reveal a strength that would be missed by examining only points and field-goal percentages.
Shooting percentages
Field-goal and three-point percentages show how often attempts become successful shots.
They should be considered alongside attempts and makes. In this game, Los Angeles combined a higher field-goal percentage with more three-point makes, making the shooting gap more informative than either percentage alone.
Turnovers, steals, and blocks
Turnovers show how often a team loses possession without completing a scoring attempt. Steals record defensive takeaways, while blocks record shots that a defender deflects or stops.
Dallas committed 10 turnovers, one fewer than the Clippers. This small difference suggests that turnovers were not the major statistical separator in the game.
For a deeper analysis, readers should combine these categories with shooting efficiency, rebounding, assists, and the timing of key scoring runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the Dallas Mavericks vs LA Clippers game on March 22, 2026?
The LA Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 138-131 in overtime at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
2. Who scored the most points in the game?
Darius Garland led all listed scorers with 41 points for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard added 34 points, while Naji Marshall led Dallas with 28.
3. How many assists did Darius Garland record?
Garland recorded 11 assists, the highest listed individual assist total in the game. Cooper Flagg led Dallas with eight assists.
4. Which team shot better from three-point range?
The Clippers shot 50% from three-point range, making 21 of 42 attempts. Dallas made 13 of 34 attempts, approximately 38%.
5. Which team had more rebounds?
Dallas recorded 47 total rebounds, compared with 40 for the Clippers. The Mavericks also had a substantial offensive-rebounding advantage, collecting 17 offensive boards against six.
6. What decided the game in overtime?
The Clippers outscored Dallas 16-9 in overtime to secure the 138-131 victory. Their superior overall shooting efficiency and three-point production were important factors throughout the contest.
Conclusion
The dallas mavericks vs la clippers match player stats reveal how a high-scoring game can be decided by efficiency rather than simply the number of opportunities created. Los Angeles won 138-131 in overtime after overcoming Dallas’s early lead, with Darius Garland’s 41 points and 11 assists and Kawhi Leonard’s 34 points leading the offensive effort.
Dallas had several strengths of its own. Marshall scored 28 points, Washington added 21, Flagg contributed 18 points and eight assists, and Gafford collected 13 rebounds. The Mavericks also won the total-rebounding battle 47-40 and recorded 17 offensive rebounds.
The decisive statistical differences were Los Angeles’s 57% field-goal percentage, its 21 three-pointers, and its eight-assist advantage. Dallas created additional chances through rebounding, but the Clippers converted their shooting opportunities more effectively and produced the stronger overtime performance.
Viewed together, the player statistics and team totals explain the result more clearly than the final score alone. They show how scoring, shooting accuracy, ball movement, and possession management combined to shape a closely contested NBA matchup.