The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 126-111, in an NBA seeding game in Orlando on Thursday evening.

The Clippers (46-22) came in looking to atone for a couple of narrow losses in their first three games of the restart to the season, but they found an equally determined foe in the Mavericks (41-30) early in the contest. Los Angeles took a slim one-point lead into intermission after both clubs nearly matched each other bucket for bucket in the first half. The three-point advantage coach Doc Rivers' squad subsequently carried into the final period ultimately evaporated when Maxi Kleber drained a three-pointer for Dallas with 6:41 remaining, but the Clippers then finished on a torrid 25-10 run the rest of the way to seal the win.

Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Clippers with 29 points, adding six rebounds, five assists and one steal. Paul George followed with 24 points that he complemented with seven rebounds and six assists. Ivica Zubac provided a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double that also included one assist and one block. Marcus Morris poured in 16 points and also managed five rebounds, one assist and two steals.

Kristaps Porzingis paced the Mavericks with 30 points, a total he complemented with nine rebounds, five assists and one block. Luka Doncic registered 29 points, six assists and three rebounds. Dorian Finney-Smith checked in with 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one block. Trey Burke and Kleber furnished 11 and 10 points off the bench, respectively, while also pulling down four rebounds apiece.

The Clippers are back on the floor Saturday afternoon against the Portland Trail Blazers, while the Mavericks take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.