The Skinny
Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving combined for 70 points as the Dallas Mavericks mauled the Portland Trail Blazers at home, 126-97.
The injury-riddled Blazers saw the return of Anfernee Simons and Toumani Camara to the starting lineup. Key reserves Shaedon Sharpe and Duop Reath also marked their return from injuries. All four played with a minutes restriction.
Wednesday night’s contest was more or less over by halftime, with Dallas scoring 43 points to Portland’s 22. Both teams lost key players down the stretch in a game fraught with injuries and fouls.
The Mavericks would lose starter Derek Lively II midway through the third quarter and reserve Grant Williams early in the fourth. The Blazers lost Reath to a flagrant foul committed against Josh Green.
Star Efforts
Luka Doncic continued an exceptional streak of games against the Blazers, scoring 41 points, six rebounds, five assists and steal. Kyrie Irving added 29 points, nine rebounds and five assists and a pair of pickpocket of his own.
Game Story
The wheels fell off early for the Blazer. Dallas came out hot, running off a 9-0 run before Portland could cobble together offense. The visiting team just could not find a rhythm, amassing 11 fouls in the quarter. Jabari Walker, Jerami Grant and Duop Reath entered foul trouble and a rotisserie rotation plagued the rest of the game.
The Mavericks profited mightily, scoring 13-17 from the free throws line as Irving and Dončić combined for 21 points in the quarter. Sharpe, for his part, was just about the only Blazer not stuck in the mud, coming off the bench for seven points. He would finish the game with a team-high 16 points.
In the second quarter, not only did the wheels fall off the Blazers’ wagon, but the so too did the cover, sides, tailgate and harness. The Mavericks continued on like an iron horse. Dončić and Irving fed the boiler a 31 combined points and Dallas steamrolled to a 43-22 quarter.
To add to the Blazers’ misery, a dubious flagrant foul would eject Reath from the game. Reath’s elbow made unfortunate (but not unnecessarily rough) contact with Josh Green’s face. The starting guard for the Mavericks was okay, but an already thin Blazers frontcourt was made ready to liquefy in prison pasta sauce.
Staring uphill with nothing but a sled and having matched their season average for total fouls in a game by halftime. Still, the Blazers started their attempt at a comeback. Unfortunately for every made basket by Simons, Grant or Camara, the Mavericks would answer right back.
The lead bobbled around 26 to 31 as the Mavericks’ backcourt put their finishing touches on a masterpiece game. Both star guards played the full quarter and combining for another 18 points.
When Ibou Badji earned his fifth foul in the third, Ish Wainright entered the game and it was all over. Whatever hope the Blazers had for a 100 point play for free McNuggets ended when a Scoot Henderson three was waved off on a ticky-tack 34th foul of the game. Final score, Mavericks, 126-97.
There’s no chance at being objective after this game. The Mavericks can enjoy the win in a tight Western Conference. The Blazers can burn the tape from your mind. The neutrals might have some choice words about lead referee Rodney Mott’s crew.
Where to Next?
Portland fall to 9-24 on the season while Dallas continues a win streak to 20-15. The Blazers and Mavericks will wrap up the season series on Friday night in Dallas.
