The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 131-120 in the NBA game played on December 16, 2023. With an incredible triple-double that included 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, Luka Dončić led the Mavericks. His 61st triple-double of the season came from this performance. With 25 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. made a substantial contribution as well. Dallas had other notable players with 18 points apiece from Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. and 10 from Markieff Morris. Anfernee Simons led the Trail Blazers in scoring with 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Scoot Henderson and Duop Reath added 13 and 11 points, respectively, after Jerami Grant‘s 27 points.
With a little over a minute left, the Trail Blazers were able to close the margin to 127-120, even though they had been behind by as many as 18 points in the third quarter. But Jones’s ensuing goal gave Dallas the advantage. After missing four games due to concussion procedures, Grant returned and helped Portland take an early lead with 11 points in the opening quarter. On the other hand, the Mavericks controlled the second quarter, outscoring their opponents 13-2, and they led the game from then.
For the fourth time in their last six games, the Mavericks scored 70 points or more in the first half, demonstrating their potent attack. With his 30-plus points in this game, Dončić broke the franchise record and extended his winning streak to 10 games. Dallas made 34% of its three-point attempts and 49.5% of its field goals. Portland, on the other hand, shot 50% overall but only hit 21.9% of their shots from beyond the line of sight. Due to a right foot injury, Kyrie Irving did not play for the Mavericks. Additionally, forward Dereck Lively II left the game with a sprained left ankle and did not return. The game showcased Dallas’ offensive prowess and tenacity overall, with Dončić’s effort standing out as a high point.
