Star Players
Anfernee Simons scored 33, Jerami Grant added 27, but it was not enough as Luka Dončić led the Mavericks to their 16th win of the season behind a 40-point triple-double.
Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 25 points while Derrick Jones Jr. and Dante Exum added 18 to outperform the Blazers’ backcourt. Scoot Henderson struggled in the first half, but made an impact in the second.
Dončić, per usual, was excellent, scoring 40p/10a/12r, doing it all for the Mavericks in 37 minutes. Grant in his first game back since a concussion suffered in a loss against the Jazz in Utah on December 2nd. The talisman forward has been sorely missed in a season plagued by injuries.
Game Recap
The Trail Blazers started hot, scoring 39 points behind Simons, Grant and Ayton on a scintillating 16 of 24 shooting with the majority of the work done inside the arc. But the Mavericks hung around, using a 15-3 run to pounce ahead, 54-42. The Mavericks further used the free throw line (16/17 in the half) press their advantage and outscore the Blazers 38-24 en route to an 11-point lead.
From there the game ebbed and flowed as the Blazers made repeated runs to try and close a lead that grew to 18 with just under nine minutes left in the third quarter. Simons, determined to even the free throw disparity by repeatedly driving to the rim. Henderson would also find the rim scoring up close and from range.
Unfortunately, the Blazers’ defense was porous with multiple breakdowns leading to easy points for their opponent. Dončić played facilitator, grabbing eight points, six boards and six assists in the quarter as Jones drove and cut inside while Exum and Hardaway splashed from range.
Both teams cooled down in the final period, as the Blazers could never quite make it closer down seven with 8:44 left to go. The Blazers struggled to string together offense while the Mavericks were content to drain time and take what the defense gave them and the lead played out a stalemate until the horn, 131-120.
Key Stats
In a reversal of recent trends, the Blazers outsized the Mavericks in paint, feasting on a 20 point advantage, 72-52, but could not convert on three point attempts making seven on 21.9% shooting. The Mavericks, meanwhile, shot in volume, making 16 on 34.8% shooting and edged the home team in rebounds, 47-44.
Both teams would otherwise shoot well, the Blazers made 50.0% on all attempts to the Maverick’s 49.5% and fought to a relative stalemate at the free throw line with both teams making 19. They also both took relatively effective care of the basketball, with the Blazers provoking just one more from the Mavericks, 11 to 12 respectively.
However, it was in those small margins that the Mavericks capitalized and made runs to win them the game.
Where to Next?
The Blazers will continue their homestand against the Golden State Warriors tonight, Sunday Dec. 17th before hosting the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday and Washington Wizards on Thursday.
The Mavericks will meet the defending champion Nuggets on Monday, return home for a midweek match against the Los Angeles Clippers before an away-home doubleheader against their Texas rivals, the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.
Injury Report
For the Saturday night match, the Blazers were healthy excepting center Robert Williams III as the Mavericks missed guards Kyrie Irving and Josh Green as wekk as forwards Maxi Kleber and Richaun Holmes.
Unfortunately for the Mavericks, young center Dereck Lively II went down with an ankle sprain early in the quarter. His impact has been key to a rejuvenated Dallas squad who now sit in the upper reaches of a tough Western Conference.
