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Mavericks hope to clinch series with a Game 6 win Friday

<div>Los Angeles, CA, Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/dallas/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Dallas Mavericks;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Dallas Mavericks</a> guard <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4840/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Kyrie Irving;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Kyrie Irving</a> (11) and guard <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/6014/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Luka Doncic;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Luka Doncic</a> (77) congratulate each other late in the fourth quarter as they seal a win over the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/la-clippers/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Clippers;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Clippers</a> in game five of the NBA Western Conference playoffs at Crypto.Com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)</div>

DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks will try to close out their first-round playoff series Friday night in front of a home crowd.

The Mavs beat the Clippers in a blowout in Game 5 Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

MORE: Dallas Mavericks News

Luka Doncic played through a knee injury and an illness.

He was not listed on the team’s injury report Thursday, so it’s pretty likely he’ll be available Friday night.

Dallas needs to take care of business to avoid a do-or-die situation in LA for Game 7.

"We want to take advantage of the home court, obviously. We don't want to come back here and deal with the crowd here," Mavs forward Maxi Kleber said after Game 5. "I think the good thing is I think we saw what happens when we don't come out with the right mindset because they're too talented. They will knock down big-time shots. We've just got to lock in."

Game 6 tips off at 8:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Center.

The winner of this series will face the Oklahoma Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.