Double act pulls Mavs level with Clippers

Luka Doncic scored 32 points as the Dallas Mavericks battled to a series-tying 96-93 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in a their NBA Western Conference playoff clash.

Doncic combined with Kyrie Irving, who scored 23 points, to ensure that Dallas will head back to Texas with honors even at 1-1 in the best-of-seven, first-round series.

Doncic and Irving formed a sublime double act in a hard-fought fourth quarter, combining for 14 unanswered points that took the game away from the Clippers, who had downed the Mavericks 109-97 in the series opener.

"We had to make some noise in the second game, you know, first game wasn't our best game," said Doncic, who also had nine assists and six rebounds.

Of Irving, the Slovenian said: "It's amazing having him on our team. It just helps me a lot. A great guy."

Irving also had six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

James Harden and Paul George led the Clippers with 22 points each.

In other playoff action, Jaden McDaniels scored 25 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Phoenix Suns 105-93 to take a 2-0 series lead while the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 125-108 to level their series at 1-1.

McDaniels led a balanced Minnesota offensive effort that saw all five starters finish in double digits.

But it was the Timberwolves' defense that made the difference, shutting down Phoenix in the second half to frustrate Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

In Milwaukee, Pascal Siakam poured in 37 points to guide the Pacers past the Bucks. He also had 11 rebounds and six assists.