In a thrilling Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff series, the Dallas Mavericks mounted a stunning comeback against the Los Angeles Clippers, only to narrowly lose by a score of 116-111. The Mavericks, showing incredible resilience, rallied from a massive 31-point deficit in the first half to take a brief lead in the final minutes.

With just 2:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, Kyrie Irving made a layup to put the Mavericks ahead 105-104. Irving, who had been a consistent scoring threat throughout the game, also drained a remarkable long-range three-pointer on the previous possession. However, Paul George of the Clippers responded with a clutch stepback three from the corner, reclaiming the lead for Los Angeles at 107-105.

George's heroics proved crucial as the Clippers managed to hold on until the final buzzer, securing a hard-fought 116-111 victory. The series is now tied 2-2, setting up a highly anticipated Game 5 scheduled for Wednesday.

George and Houston were the standout performers for the Clippers. George showcased his offensive prowess, finishing the game with an impressive 33 points, shooting 11-for-19 from the field and 7-for-10 from beyond the arc. He made a blistering start, racking up 16 points in the first quarter and 26 points in the first half. Meanwhile, James Harden contributed 33 points, including 15 crucial points in the fourth quarter.

The Clippers dominated early on, building a commanding 39-16 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 66-49 by halftime. But the Mavericks staged a remarkable comeback in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 29-16.

One of the key factors in the Mavericks' resurgence was their ability to limit the impact of George and Harden, who had been unstoppable in the first half. After combining for 44 points in the early stages, George was contained to just two points on 1-for-3 shooting, while Harden failed to score.

Notably, if the Clippers had lost, they would have found themselves on both ends of the largest playoff comeback in NBA history. In 2019, they made an incredible comeback from 31 points down in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Golden State Warriors, ultimately winning 135-131.

Kyrie Irving was the driving force behind the Mavericks' valiant fightback. The veteran guard displayed exceptional scoring ability, notching 40 points while hitting shots from all areas of the court, including a commendable 6-for-12 from three-point range. Irving's performance marked the third-highest postseason scoring total of his career.

Luka Doncic also made his presence felt for the Mavericks, contributing 29 points and 10 rebounds. However, Doncic struggled with his shooting, converting just 10 of his 24 attempts from the field.

The absence of Kawhi Leonard was felt by the Clippers, as he sat out Game 4 due to right knee inflammation. The team's decision to rest Leonard raised concerns about the star player's availability for the remainder of the series. Leonard played in Games 2 and 3 after missing Game 1 and the final eight games of the regular season, but he had limited impact, scoring a combined 24 points.

With the series now tied, Game 5 is expected to be a fierce battle as both teams vie for the upper hand. The game is set to take place in Los Angeles, with tip-off scheduled for 10 p.m. ET and televised on TNT.