DALLAS — Game 5, in Los Angeles, with the series tied at 2 -- it doesn't get much more important than Wednesday night.
"This is a swing game," Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said of Game 5 against the Clippers. "The winner controls the series. So we've got to find a way to win on the road."
And for a banged-up Mavs team, two days off between Games 4 and 5 came at a perfect time.
"Get treatment, get settled in, get film," Mavs forward PJ Washington said. "Get whatever you need to do to get better, and prepare for the next game. I feel like having that extra day is great for us."
It's great for all of them, but none more so than Luka Doncic, whose sprained right knee had an elaborate tape job on it Tuesday at practice.
"Luka has a sprained knee. He's probable for tomorrow," Kidd said before being asked what Doncic was able to do at practice. "Everything," Kidd said.
Doncic is probable from a health standpoint, but perhaps a little questionable still from a mental standpoint, after he commented on Game 4 that he feels like he's letting Kyrie Irving down with his play in this series.
Kidd balked at that on Tuesday.
"He's not letting anybody down. He's playing. You're gonna make some shots, you're gonna miss some shots. That's part of playing basketball," Kidd said. "But we believe that when it comes down to it, he's going to be there to deliver."
The Clippers continue to make Doncic's life difficult, throwing a variety of looks at him, and taking him out of his rhythm.
"They're throwing a lot of different bodies at him. Making him work," Kidd said. "Taking the three away, or taking the lob away. So for him, he's gotta look to score a little bit more for us, and be aggressive and set the tone early."
As long as his knee will cooperate, you can bet Doncic will find a way to do just that.