Mavs' Maxi Kleber: Clippers' Stare-Down After Kawhi's Dunk Should Be Technical Foul

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVMay 24, 2021

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonardd, left, dunks over Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber during the second half in Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Kawhi Leonard put Maxi Kleber on a poster in Game 1's 113-103 win for the Dallas Mavericks with a huge dunk in transition.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
KAWHI CAUGHT A BODY 😤<br><br>(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/lk1NULCqQe

SportsCenter @SportsCenter
The Clippers staring down Kleber after Kawhi's poster 😳 pic.twitter.com/Wt6FOSc7Nc

And while Kleber could live with being on the receiving end of the highlight-reel moment, he wasn't thrilled with the Los Angeles Clippers' reaction.

"I think the stare-down should've been a technical foul, in my opinion, but that's not my decision," he told reporters Sunday. "I didn't really care. I get up and try to keep playing, and we kept playing. Stuff like that happens. Obviously, it was an amazing dunk."

Callie Caplan @CallieCaplan
Maxi Kleber on taking Kawhi Leonard's dunk yesterday: "I had three fouls already, so I couldn't take an early foul to stop the fast break. This is the playoffs. I'm going to try to contest the shot every time."<br><br>On Clippers' staredown: "That should've been a technical foul."

Kleber will look to avoid getting dunked on—and earn his team a win—when the teams meet in Game 2 on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET (NBATV).