After evening the series at 2-wins apiece, the Los Angeles Clippers entered Game 5 with all the momentum and in a good position to take control of the matchup.
Instead, they were bested by Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks again. This time, though, it has put them on the brink of elimination in the very first round.
With the Clippers staring down yet another massive postseason disappointment, NBA fans took to Twitter to react:
The Clippers had every opportunity to win that game and take control of this series. And they upchucked again and again and again. So many inexplicably careless turnovers. So many missed open shots. So little backbone. They are done.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 3, 2021
If Lakers are suffering, I need the Clippers to suffer worse. pic.twitter.com/8PVxkUyIJ6
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 3, 2021
The Mavs just beat the Clippers in a game where they made 6 baskets the entire game that weren’t scored or assisted by Luka. Six.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) June 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/IsaacKLee/status/1400313585847324672
That game ended in the most Clippers way possible and this series has officially given me trust issues.
— Dom2K 🎅🎇 (@Dom_2k) June 3, 2021
Chuck when the Mavs won another game against the Clippers. pic.twitter.com/gqcaLrXy7g
— The Dawgzilla (@TheDawgzilla) June 3, 2021
Science is incapable of explaining the Clippers' playoff history.
— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) June 3, 2021
Lakers fans after being down 3-2 but realizing that the Clippers are also facing elimination pic.twitter.com/oPelR4Dh7o
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) June 3, 2021
I can’t think of a more classic way for the Clippers to blow this than the way they did.
When hope was lost after game 2, they brought it back. When hope was lost in this game, they brought it back. Just to lose.
It all just adds to the pain.
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) June 3, 2021
The Clippers don’t have a very illustrious history as a franchise. They have struggled to attract talent and stay relevant tint their own city.
So when Kawhi and PG arrived in 2019, it was like a changing of the tide. Finally, after years of mediocrity and bad luck, the Clippers had two reliable stars to get them over the top.
Unfortunately, it seems the team just can’t get out of their own way. Just a year after melting away a 3-1 lead in the Conference Semis, they stand on the verge of elimination in just the first round.
No doubt, Game 6 will be huge for the Clippers’ future, and for the legacies of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
We’ll see how they respond with pressure at an all-time high.
