The Dallas Mavericks sought a two-game winning streak, and so did the Portland Trail Blazers, as the two West teams entered Thursday night’s game. The Mavericks defeated the Trail Blazers 117-111 at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night. Dallas improved to 22-16 and achieved a two-game winning streak, while Portland fell to 13-24 and failed to achieve the same result.
Jaden Hardy led the Mavericks with 25 points and two assists. PJ Washington followed up with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and one assist. Dereck Lively II added 21 points, 16 rebounds, and one assist. Spencer Dinwiddie had 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Quentin Grimes scored 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Naji Marshall recorded 11 points, two rebounds, and four assists.
Dallas Mavericks-Portland Trail Blazers Recap
The Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers game was action-packed from start to finish. The Mavericks ruled out Luka Doncic with a left calf strain, Kyrie Irving with a lumbar back sprain, Dante Exum with right wrist surgery, and Jazian Gortman and Kessler Edwards with NBA G League designations. The Trail Blazers ruled out Jerami Grant with a facial contusion.
Due to the inclement weather in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers game was moved to 6:30 p.m. The American Airlines Center’s doors opened at 5:00 p.m., both in Central time. The Metroplex expected the heaviest snow day of the year on Thursday night. The Mavericks’ starting lineup featured Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Spencer Dinwiddie, PJ Washington, and Dereck Lively II.
The first quarter saw fast-paced action on both sides of the court. Anfernee Simons helped the Trail Blazers get on the board with the first bucket of the game, while Quentin Grimes contributed to the Mavericks’ cause with a stepback three-pointer. The Trail Blazers led 28-20 at the end of the first. The second quarter saw the Mavericks’ fast start and the Trail Blazers’ response. The Trail Blazers brought a 58-53 lead to the locker room at halftime.
The third quarter shifted in the Mavericks’ favor for quite a bit, but the Mavericks fell short. PJ Washington, Naji Marshall, and Jaden Hardy continued their offensive dominance on the court. The Trail Blazers led 89-81 through three quarters. The fourth quarter saw the Trail Blazers’ fast start, but the Mavericks eventually tied the game and took the lead. The Mavericks won 117-111 in regulation.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers game featured multiple highlights, such as the Mavericks’ latest injury in Daniel Gafford. Gafford sprained his left ankle during the Mavericks’ 119-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at the American Airlines Center on Monday night. Jason Kidd told Mavs.com that the Mavericks seem to lose a player every day, so the next-man-up mentality is necessary.
For the Mavericks, former majority owner Mark Cuban recently confirmed that he sold his majority stake due to new business ventures and family considerations. Cuban retains a minority stake in the team. Cuban said, “In a social media world today, the critics of the ownership of any professional sports team can be brutal … I don’t want my kids potentially feeling the pressure to walk into my spot as owner and try to deal with that.”
For the Trail Blazers, The “Ringer’s” Michael Pena recently wrote an article about the seven NBA players he felt had improved the least this season. Pena included the Trail Blazers’ second-year Point Guard Scoot Henderson. Pena cited Henderson’s turnover rate and field goal percentage as the top two reasons. Henderson has averaged 10.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
Final Thoughts
As Maxi Kleber looked to get a rhythm after an illness and injuries, LeBron James still defied “Father Time” just days after his 40th birthday. Kleber’s best game this season occurred on December 27, 2024, during the Mavericks’ 98-89 win in Phoenix. Kleber scored a season-high 15 points and was 5-of-7 from the field. James has been averaging 24 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.6 rebounds per game this season.
It’s unclear how the Dallas Mavericks will handle the incoming snowstorm, but the Mavericks’ three-point explosion stopped the Los Angeles Lakers with a 118-97 win at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night. The Mavericks’ defense, shooting, and rebounding were great, giving up just five offensive rebounds. Dorian Finney-Smith enjoyed his homecoming to Dallas. Finney-Smith played for the Mavericks from 2016-2023.
The Mavericks will conclude their four-game homestand with the fourth game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Central. The Mavericks’ roster is arguably deep enough to win games without Doncic and Irving. The Mavericks reportedly don’t want anyone to have a pity party for them, despite waiting for Doncic and Irving to be healthy enough to play again.
