The Dallas Mavericks mauled the Portland Trail Blazers again as Kyrie Irving scored 24 and rookie Jaden Hardy added 19 in Dallas. Portland falls to 9-25 on the season, while the Mavericks continue to their win streak to 21-15.
The game was relatively close through two quarters, as Portland trailed 62-53 at the half. However, a 40-17 quarter would seal the game for Dallas as they cruised to victory in the fourth. Despite the Blazers following up one blowout loss with another, Scoot Henderson and the youth showed out.
Both teams played without key players, as Luka Dončić, Grant Williams and Derek Lively II nursed ankles for Dallas. Portland’s centers Deandre Ayton and Moses Brown remained sidelined by knee tendinitis and wrist issues, respectively. Jabari Walker held out on precaution of a knee strain.
Star Efforts
Kyrie Irving played exceptionally for the second-straight game. The star guard led the way for the Mavericks with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists on 10-18 shooting. Jalen Hardy had a breakout game in the starting lineup, nearly ticking a triple-double with 19 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. added another 19 points off the bench.
Scoot Henderson notched his third career double-double. He was easily the Blazers’ best player with a 17-point, 10-assist effort, grabbing three rebounds and committing only a single turnover. Duop Reath returned from injury with a stellar 16 points and seven rebounds. Jerami Grant added 18 and three assists of his own on efficient 6-11 shooting and a team-high three steals.
What’s The Story, Morning Glory
After a lousy start last game, Portland’s head coach Chauncey Billups held an emergency practice on Thursday to readjust his team for Friday’s game.
For the first half of the first frame, the team looked like it had received the message; leading 15-12 on stellar early play from Henderson, his energy lifted his teammates. Grant, Reath and fellow rookie Toumani Camara all contributed to a solid first shift.
Unfortunately, they were playing against a Kyrie Irving still in the same groove from the previous contest. He was unfathomably hot, making five of his first six shots for 12 points. Aided by Tim Hardaway and Josh Green, the Mavericks played with newfound speed to jump out, 38-26, by the end of the first frame.
The Blazers would fight back to to draw within four, 41-37, with 8:41 left to go. Unfortunately that would be as close they would come for the rest of the game. Dallas would slug Portland with 13 unanswered points and then trade buckets until halftime.
Despite an excellent assist from Henderson to Grant for a corner three, the Mavericks responded on a sensational last-second shot by John Green to lead 62-53.
Coming out of the half down nine, the Portland still had a shot, despite Dallas shooting over 55% and outrebounding their guests 26-20. The Blazers still had an edge on assists (16-15), matched the Mavericks on three pointers (7-18 for both teams) and playing active in the passing lanes.
Within four minutes of the third quarter, this was no longer the case. The Mavericks made hay to put the Blazers away on the back of a 33-7 run. By the time the Blazers went back in for the break, they had been outscored 40-17 in the quarter.
Both teams gave their youth some run in the final frame. The Blazers, saw Henderson and a crew comprising Camara, Shaedon Sharpe, Kris Murray and Rayan Rupert. For Dallas, it was Hardy, A.J. Lawson and Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
Of the Portland group, Rupert and Murray finished with career-highs. Seven points and three rebounds for the former, 10 points, four rebounds, am assist and two steals for the latter. Shaedon Sharpe put in another solid 15 points, five rebounds and two pretty assists. More importantly he found his way to the line.
Dallas’ youth countered via Prosper and Lawson with Hardy’s damage coming mostly in the third. Both teams played to a tie in the final frame, en route to 139-103 victory as the Mavericks mauled the Blazers again.
Key Stats
Portland managed to improve shooting figures on last game, finishing 39-95 (41.1%) from the floor. Dallas, however, had no chill, finishing a torrid 55-96 (58.3%). The Mavericks improved their three point shooting to 17-38 (44.7%) while the Blazers slumped to 13-40 (32.5%).
Both squads made it to the free-throw line roughly equally, with the Blazers edging the Mavericks, 12-17 (70.6%) to 10-15 (66.7%), respectively. After a terrible first game of fouling, Portland returned below their season average with 15 fouls to the Mavericks 21.
However, the Blazers failed to make their presence known in the paint, as the Mavericks grabbed 52 rebounds to 42 and blocked eight attempts to the Blazers’ three. Dallas outscored Portland, 64-44, inside the painted lines and finished with 35 assists to 27.
The key difference came with pace. The Mavericks ran a younger Blazer squad out of the building, outscoring Portland 36-12 on the fast break. The high pace led to sloppy play, as the Blazers turned over the ball 19 times and forced the Mavericks to cough it up 17 times.
Where To Next
The Blazers will continue their seven-game roadtrip in Brooklyn against the Nets on Sunday. The Dallas Mavericks will also play Sunday, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves.
