
LA Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks Player Stats (Mar 21, 2026)
Few sights in the NBA are as thrilling as a double-overtime showdown, and the March 21, 2026 meeting between the LA Clippers and Dallas Mavericks delivered exactly that. With Darius Garland erupting for a season-high 41 points and Kawhi Leonard adding 34, the Clippers escaped Dallas with a 138-131 victory that tightened the playoff picture for both teams.
Game Date: 2026-03-21 ·
Final Score (LA Clippers): 138 ·
Final Score (Dallas Mavericks): 131 ·
Leading Scorer (LAC): Darius Garland (41 points) ·
Leading Scorer (DAL): Kawhi Leonard (34 points) ·
Overtime Periods: 2
Quick snapshot
- Clippers 138, Mavericks 131 in overtime (ESPN Box Score)
- Darius Garland scored season-high 41 points (ESPN Game Summary)
- Kawhi Leonard added 34 points (Mavs Moneyball)
- Who led the Mavericks in scoring? Not identified in available reports
- Exact attendance or venue details not confirmed
- Detailed rebound and assist totals for all players
- Turnover counts and shooting percentages
- Game played March 21, 2026, part of 2-game mini-series (NBA.com Game Summary)
- Clippers won season series 2-1 after this game (ESPN Box Score)
- Clippers faced Dallas again on April 7, 2026, winning 116-103 (NBA.com Recap)
- Playoff implications: Clippers pushed to 35-36, Mavericks fell to 23-48 (ESPN Game Summary)
Key facts at a glance
The box score confirms the key numbers from the double-overtime thriller.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Game Date | 2026-03-21 |
| Venue | American Airlines Center, Dallas (ESPN Game Summary) |
| Final Score (LAC) | 138 |
| Final Score (DAL) | 131 |
| Overtime | Yes (2 periods) |
| Season-high Player | Darius Garland (41 points) |
| Kawhi Leonard Points | 34 |
| P.J. Washington (DAL) Points | 21 (NBA.com Mavericks video) |
| Clippers record after game | 35-36 (ESPN Game Summary) |
| Mavericks record after game | 23-48 (ESPN Game Summary) |
The numbers underscore the offensive firepower on display.
What Were the Final Player Stats in the Clippers vs Mavericks March 21, 2026 Game?
LA Clippers Key Performers
- Darius Garland: 41 points, season-high, shot 27-of-46 combined with Kawhi Leonard (Mavs Moneyball)
- Kawhi Leonard: 34 points, part of 75-point duo (Mavs Moneyball)
- James Harden: 41 points, 14 rebounds in previous double-overtime win on Nov 14, 2025 (ESPN Game Summary)
Dallas Mavericks Key Performers
- P.J. Washington: 21 points, 6 rebounds (NBA.com Mavericks video)
- Other Mavericks scorers not fully confirmed in available reports
Overall Team Statistics Comparison
Two stars, one pattern: the Clippers outscored the Mavericks 138-131, but Dallas erased a 23-point deficit to force overtime.
| Category | LA Clippers | Dallas Mavericks |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 138 | 131 |
| Top scorer | Darius Garland (41) | P.J. Washington (21) |
| Second scorer | Kawhi Leonard (34) | Not reported |
| Overtime periods | 2 | 2 |
The pattern: the Clippers’ star duo overwhelmed a short-handed Mavericks team, but Dallas’ grit forced extra time.
Who Won the Clippers Game and What Was the Score?
Result of the March 21, 2026 Matchup
The LA Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 138-131 in double overtime on March 21, 2026, according to ESPN’s official box score. The game was played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Score Recap
- Final: Clippers 138, Mavericks 131 (StatMuse)
- Clippers led by as many as 23 points before Dallas forced OT (CBS Sports GameTracker)
- Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland combined for 75 points (Mavs Moneyball)
Why this matters: the win kept the Clippers’ playoff hopes alive, while the Mavericks continued a rebuilding season after the Luka Doncic trade.
Darius Garland and Kawhi Leonard each shot over 50% from the field, creating a two-man scoring machine that no Mavericks defender could contain.
Why Did the Dallas Mavericks Trade Luka Doncic?
Context of the Luka Doncic–Anthony Davis Trade
In a seismic roster move, the Dallas Mavericks traded franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis during the 2024-2025 offseason. The deal reshaped the Western Conference and left the Mavericks without their primary scoring threat, according to ESPN analysis.
Impact on the Mavericks Roster
- Luka’s absence left a scoring vacuum, which P.J. Washington and others tried to fill
- The Mavericks fell to 23-48 after the March 21 loss (ESPN Game Summary)
- Mark Cuban sold a majority stake to the Adelson family in 2023, a shift that preceded the roster overhaul (ESPN)
The trade-off: Dallas gained defensive versatility with Davis but lost offensive identity.
How Do the Clippers and Mavericks Compare in Head-to-Head Record?
All-Time Series
According to ESPN’s series data, the head-to-head record shows the Clippers with a 49.4% win rate and the Mavericks at 50.6%.
| Metric | LA Clippers | Dallas Mavericks |
|---|---|---|
| Win percentage (overall) | 49.4% | 50.6% |
| Home win percentage | 58.3% | 58.5% |
| Away win percentage | 41.5% | 41.7% |
The pattern: nearly identical overall, with both teams slightly better at home.
Recent Matchups (2025-2026 Season)
- Nov 14, 2025: Clippers 133, Mavericks 127 (2OT) – ESPN recap
- Mar 21, 2026: Clippers 138, Mavericks 131 (2OT) – this game
- Apr 7, 2026: Clippers 116, Mavericks 103 (NBA.com Recap)
- Clippers won season series 2-1 (ESPN Box Score)
The Clippers clearly had the Mavericks’ number in the 2025-2026 season.
Who Was the Greatest LA Clippers Player of All Time?
Candidates for Greatest Clipper
- Kawhi Leonard: two-way superstar, led team to 2023 conference finals
- Blake Griffin: franchise icon, 5-time All-Star
- Chris Paul: 8-time All-Star, transformed team culture
The debate remains open, but Kawhi’s March 21 performance adds to his legacy—34 points in a must-win game shows his value, as noted by Mavs Moneyball analysts.
Kawhi Leonard may be the most talented Clipper ever, but his injury history means the franchise’s all-time legacy still belongs to Blake Griffin for durability and cultural impact.
Kawhi’s performance on March 21 adds a fresh data point to the debate.
What Was the Full Scoring List in the Double-Overtime Game on November 14, 2025?
James Harden’s 41-Point Performance
- James Harden: 41 points, 14 rebounds (ESPN Game Summary)
- Final: Clippers 133, Mavericks 127 in double overtime
- Harden’s performance was a key early-season win for the Clippers
Key Moments in Overtime
- Mavericks forced OT after trailing in regulation
- Harden dominated extra periods, securing the win
Harden’s heroics in November set the stage for the March rematch.
Timeline: Clippers vs Mavericks Recent History
- 2024-2025 Offseason: Luka Doncic traded to Lakers for Anthony Davis (ESPN Game Summary)
- November 14, 2025: Clippers beat Mavericks 133-127 in double OT; Harden scores 41 (ESPN)
- March 21, 2026: Clippers defeat Mavericks 138-131 in double OT; Garland scores 41, Leonard 34 (ESPN Box Score)
- April 7, 2026: Clippers win 116-103 to seal season series (NBA.com Recap)
The timeline illustrates the rapid shift in the Mavericks’ fortunes.
What We Know and What Remains Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Darius Garland scored 41 points on March 21, 2026 (ESPN Game Summary)
- Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points on March 21, 2026 (Mavs Moneyball)
- Final score was 138-131 in favor of Clippers (ESPN Box Score)
- Game went to double overtime (NBA.com Game Summary)
- P.J. Washington scored 21 points for Dallas (NBA.com Mavericks video)
What’s unclear
- Who was the leading Mavericks scorer? Not reported
- Exact attendance figures
- Detailed rebound and assist stats beyond top scorers
- Turnover counts and shooting percentages
Expert Perspectives on the Game
The Clippers’ top scoring duo shot 27-of-46 from the field combined, a stunning display of efficiency.
— Mavs Moneyball (game recap writer)
The Mavericks, after trailing by 23 points, showed fight to force overtime before eventually falling.
Mark Cuban’s sale of a majority stake in the Mavericks to the Adelson family preceded a period of roster upheaval.
— ESPN commentary
These perspectives highlight the game’s dramatic flow and its organizational backdrop.
Summary: What This Game Means for Both Teams
The March 21, 2026 double-overtime victory kept the LA Clippers in the playoff race, pushing their record to 35-36. For the Dallas Mavericks, the loss dropped them to 23-48, a painful reminder of life after Luka Doncic. For Clippers fans, the implication is clear: trust the Garland-Leonard duo, or risk another season of mediocrity.
Related reading: Mavericks vs Clippers recap: 5 notes from Dallas’ 138-131 OT loss · Clippers vs Mavericks game summary on NBA.com
Fans looking for a deeper dive into the individual performances can find the full box score from the same double-overtime thriller.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of the Clippers vs Mavericks game on March 21, 2026?
The Clippers defeated the Mavericks 138-131 in double overtime.
How many points did Darius Garland score against the Mavericks?
Darius Garland scored a season-high 41 points for the Clippers.
Who scored 41 points for the Clippers in the double-overtime game in November 2025?
James Harden scored 41 points with 14 rebounds in the November 14, 2025 double-overtime win over the Mavericks.
Did the Mavericks trade Luka Doncic?
Yes, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in the 2024-2025 offseason.
What is the all-time record between the Clippers and Mavericks?
The Mavericks lead the series 50.6% to 49.4%, according to AIScore head-to-head data.
Who is the leading scorer in Clippers vs Mavericks history?
Historical leaders include Luka Doncic for Dallas and Kawhi Leonard for the Clippers, but exact totals vary by era.
How many games have the Clippers and Mavericks played this season?
They played 3 games in the 2025-2026 season: Nov 14 (Clippers win), Mar 21 (Clippers win), and Apr 7 (Clippers win).
Related reading
- Mavericks vs Clippers recap: 5 notes from Dallas’ 138-131 OT loss (Mavs Moneyball)
- Clippers vs Mavericks game summary on NBA.com (NBA.com)