Clippers beat Dallas 118-95 as Mavericks' star guards Doncic and Irving sit due to injury

DALLAS (AP) — Norman Powell scored 29 points, James Harden added 24 and Ivica Zubac had 21 points and 15 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers beat Dallas 118-95 on Thursday night in the Mavericks’ first game this season playing without star guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Doncic sat out with a left heel contusion, Irving with right shoulder soreness, in the first of a two-game series against Los Angeles that will conclude Saturday night.

First-year Maverick Klay Thompson scored 22 points, his first game leading the team in scoring. Spencer Didwiddie added 19 making his first start of the season.

The Clippers took a 50-49 lead into the second half and outscored the Mavericks 39-28 in the third period, hitting 69.6% (16 for 23) of their field-goal attempts while Dallas shot 40% (8 of 20) in the quarter.

Clippers guard Kris Dunn was ejected for committing a flagrant 2 foul against Jazian Gortman late in the third period.

Clippers: Los Angeles led in bench scoring 33-16. Harden was 10 for 10 from the line. Powell played the entire second period, scoring 10 of his team-best 12 first-half points. Zubac didn’t have a rebound during the game’s first 15 minutes.

Mavericks: Dallas shot 7 for 30 on 3-pointers for season lows in makes and percentage (23.3%). They’re 5-2 without Doncic, 1-2 without Irving.

After P.J. Washington’s runner pulled Dallas within 73-68 with five minutes left in the third quarter, Zubac’s stuff began a 12-1 run, during which the Mavericks missed all four field-goal attempts.

The Mavericks, missing a combined 52.8 points from Doncic and Irving, scored a season low and suffered their most lopsided loss of the season.

The teams meet again Saturday. The teams’ other two meetings will be a back-to-back at Los Angeles on April 4-5.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Clippers' James Harden defends as Dallas Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) looks to make a pass in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey gets past Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) on a drive to the basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) shoots as Dallas Mavericks' Daniel Gafford (21) defends in the first half of an NBA basketkbal lgame in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) has his shot blocked by Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, center, watches play between the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic smiles as he watches play against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks guard Quentin Grimes (5) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., right, works to the basket against Dallas Mavericks' Spencer Dinwiddie, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks' Olivier-Maxence Prosper, left, and P.J. Washington (25) defend in the first half of an NBA basketkbal lgame in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Los Angeles Clippers' Nicolas Batum (33), Dallas Mavericks' P.J. Washington, center, and Kevin Porter Jr. (77) sprint after a loose ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Warren Gatland stays as the Wales coach for the 2025 Six Nations following a review into his team's failure to win a rugby test all year.

However, Welsh Rugby Union executive director of rugby Nigel Walker resigned on Friday as a result of the review.

WRU chief executive Abi Tierney considered “wholesale immediate change” in her review but decided that challenging Gatland to “change Wales' fortunes on the pitch was the best approach at this time,” a union statement said on Friday.

Gatland was warned, though, that he must start producing wins.

Wales is on a record 12-test losing run since the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. It lost all 11 tests in 2024, going winless in a calendar year for the first time since 1937.

“I've had a number of very honest conversations with Warren and I will make no secret of the fact that his position was on the line as we undertook our review,” Tierney said.

"Like any head coach in any sport, he knows the security of his position is directly related to the performances of the team and that this is a situation that will continue to intensify.

“There is a tough challenge ahead but Warren is more than up for that challenge. We also believe he is equal to it.”

Tierney's review also concluded, “We are not performing to our potential.”

The WRU intends to give Gatland more help before the Six Nations “with the ambition of improving mindset, mentality and culture within the squad,” and improving players' mentoring support.

It also wants to quickly set up a new high-performance advisory panel including former players and coaches and possibly others from different sports. The WRU wants the panel to oversee long-term changes to its high-performance structure, including the women's game, in which a new national women's coach is being sought.

“During the review I had the opportunity to explain my thinking,” Gatland said in the statement, “but I also appreciate the feedback and constructive challenge that has been put to me. I'd like to thank the players in particular for their involvement and their honesty.”

He will be reviewed again after the Six Nations, where Wales has a difficult schedule. It starts with France in Paris on Jan. 31, followed by another trip to Italy. Its first home game is against defending champion Ireland, followed by a visit to Scotland, and ending with a home game against England.

Walker, a former Wales winger, joined the WRU in 2021 as the performance director and introduced the first pro contracts for Wales women. As the interim CEO, he helped to avert a strike by the Wales men before the 2023 Six Nations. Lately, he's been working on improving the men's pathway from the community game.

“Welsh rugby will prosper again,” Walker said. “It will do so because of the strength, passion and good nature of the people who work at the WRU and the nation which supports our national game, but I am pleased to have had an opportunity to contribute.”

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

FILE - Wales coach Warren Gatland watches his team before the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Wales and Australia at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.(AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)