Clippers defeat Mavericks in dramatic fashion, 91-89

The third of the Clippers’ back-to-back-to-back games came Wednesday night against the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, a night after L.A. was embarrassed in Utah.

The Clippers were challenged by their coach to put forth a more energized effort than they displayed against the Jazz on Tuesday night.

After a series of late-game mishaps by Chauncey Billups, the veteran guard delivered for the Clippers with a game-winning three-pointer that lifted his team to a 91-89 victory over Dallas.

Billups had turned the ball over twice and missed a shot, all in the last 40 seconds of the game.

But his three-pointer with one second left, not far from the spot where Derek Fisher’s three-pointer beat the Mavericks on Monday, helped the Clippers break a 10-game losing streak to the Mavericks.

“I was so open, I was able to take my time and shoot the shot,” Billups said. “They got a contest on it late, but by that time it was gone.

“I got a great look at it and it felt good for it to go down.”

Billups finished with 21 points on seven-for-19 shooting, and eight rebounds.

The Clippers didn’t fully escape until Jason Kidd’s in-bound lob pass to Ian Mahinmi was fumbled away.

The Clippers got a big lift from Mo Williams, who was back after missing three games because of a sore right foot. He scored a season-high 26 points on 11-for-15 shooting.

The Clippers also got help from DeAndre Jordan, who had a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds.

The Clippers led 88-83 and looked to have control of the game, but the Mavericks refused to quit.

After a Billups turnover, Jason Terry made a three-pointer to pull the Mavericks to within 88-86.

Billups missed a shot, but Jordan tied up Dirk Nowitzki for a jump ball. Jordan tipped the ball to Billups, who appeared to be fouled. The referees had to look at the video replay before they ruled that Billups stepped out of bounds and was not fouled.

That gave the Mavericks the ball with 14.9 seconds left.

And that set the stage of Terry, who got open when Nowitzki set a screen on Williams. Jordan left Terry alone for a wide-open three-pointer that settled into the nets to give the Mavericks the 89-88 lead.

But the Clippers didn’t go away, Billups in particular showing why he is one of the best closers in the game.

“The one thing about it is, you always have to have a short memory,” Billups said. “I wasn’t going to let those two turnovers mess up my game.

“It’s over with. We’ve got an opportunity to win it and we did just that.”

Chris Paul (strained left hamstring) sat out his third straight game, but Williams at least provided the Clippers with another body in the backcourt.

It didn’t take Williams much time at all to get his groove back, coming off the bench in the first quarter and going right to work.

.Williams made all five of his shots, including his only three-pointer, and he handed out an assists to finish the first with 11 points.

Maybe it was the shoes for Williams.

He wore new shoes that were high tops with leather surrounding the toe area of the shoe.

Williams also had custom orthotics inside the shoes. It was all done to alleviate some of the pain in the foot.

Williams finished the first half with 18 points on seven-for-seven shooting, two-for-two from three-point range. He also had two assists in a little more than 17 minutes.

It was his effort that helped the Clippers open a 52-51 lead at the half.

Delonte West did his part to keep the Mavericks close, scoring 17 first-half points.

The rest of the Mavericks couldn’t shoot the straight in the first half, making 41.7% of their shots.

Lamar Odom wasn’t much of a factor for the Mavericks, scoring five points in 24 minutes.

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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