Kyrie said ,After a narrow 98-89 win in Phoenix, the Dallas Mavericks traveled to Portland to continue their four-game road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers ultimately prevailed to salvage a 126-122 win over the Mavericks at the Moda Center on Saturday night. Portland improved to 11-20 as Dallas fell to 20-12. Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 46 points, two rebounds, and two assists.
Spencer Dinwiddie followed with 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Quentin Grimes added 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Daniel Gafford had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Klay Thompson scored 12 points, one rebound, and one assist. Jaden Hardy recorded 11 points, four rebounds, and one assist.
In other news, Dallas’ remaining scorers included Maxi Kleber, with eight rebounds and five assists, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, with four points, two rebounds, and one assist, Dwight Powell, with two points and two assists, and Jazian Gortman, with one assist.
Dallas Mavericks-Portland Trail Blazers Recap
The Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers game was action-packed from start to finish. The Mavericks ruled out Luka Doncic with a left calf strain, Dante Exum with right wrist surgery, and Dereck Lively II with a left hip contusion. The Trail Blazers ruled out Matisse Thybulle with a right ankle sprain, Robert Williams III with a right ankle sprain, Dalano Banton with a left hip contusion, and Toumani Camara with a left foot sprain.
The Mavericks’ new-look starting lineup featured Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Maxi Kleber, and Daniel Gafford. The NBA recently announced Naji Marshall has been suspended four games without pay, and the Phoenix Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic has been suspended three games without pay for their role in an altercation on Friday night. PJ Washington Jr. was suspended one game without pay for escalating the confrontation.
Kyrie Irving picked up where he left off and opened the first quarter with a three-pointer, but the Trail Blazers’ hot scoring stifled the Mavericks. Shaedon Sharpe’s crossover was a highlight reel moment. The Trail Blazers led 36-25 at the end of the first. The Mavericks and Trail Blazers were similar in scoring in the second quarter. The Mavericks’ shine showed when Jaden Hardy hit a three-pointer. The Trail Blazers led 69-59 at halftime.
The Portland Trail Blazers started the third quarter with a 4-0 run before the Mavericks scored a two-point field goal. The Mavericks picked up the pace on successful scoring plays, such as Irving’s basket as the ball passed through the net, but the Trail Blazers led 97-82 through three quarters. The Mavericks’ fourth-quarter scoring surge cut the Trail Blazers’ lead to single digits, but the Trail Blazers held on for a 126-122 win in regulation.
Mavericks-Trail Blazers Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers game featured multiple highlights, such as the Mavericks’ recent honoring of Cynt Marshall’s legacy. Marshall announced her plans to retire effective January 1, 2025, after serving as the Mavericks CEO for nearly seven years. Marshall’s presence will no longer grace the halls of the Mavericks’ front office, but her legacy will, as she transformed the organization and inspired countless individuals in sports.
Luka Doncic’s Dallas home was burglarized on Friday night. No one was home at the time, and Doncic and his family were safe. The police report, obtained by the Dallas Morning News, said Doncic and his family had $30,000 worth of jewelry stolen. The robbery followed a memo sent to all NBA players by the NBA after several athletes dealt with robberies earlier this year.
For the Trail Blazers, Toumani Camara, a forward, has gained national attention, thanks to his defensive versatility. Camara was drafted with the 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft and was dubbed as the least flashy part of the Damian Lillard three-team trade. Camara averages 8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in the 2024-25 NBA season.
Final Thoughts
The Dallas Mavericks figured they’d have to fight for everything with Luka Doncic sidelined. On Friday against Phoenix, Dallas proved they won’t run away from such battles. As tempers flared and ejections ensued, the Mavericks showed they didn’t mind mixing it up in on-court hostilities and persevered for a 98-89 win over the Suns. The Mavericks also had to withstand the ejections of Naji Marshall and PJ Washington Jr.
If a team gave out a game ball on Friday, they should’ve given it to Maxi Kleber. Kleber wouldn’t necessarily admit it, but he was waiting for a game like this. Kleber had a season-best 15 points and seven rebounds, tying his high-water mark for the season. And the game couldn’t have come at a better time. Kleber was incredible on both ends of the court, got a late steal, and showed his small tasks were completed at a high level.
Suns Head Coach Mike Budenholzer said Dallas “found ways to be really good” without Doncic. The Mavericks’ current challenge is to hold the fort while Doncic’s out, and it’s a challenge, but outsiders, such as the Suns, know a team that improved themselves over the offseason after reaching the NBA Finals last spring shouldn’t be overlooked. Budenholzer added Kyrie Irving is one of the great talents in the NBA.
The Mavericks will continue their road trip against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center on Monday at 7:00 p.m. Pacific. The Kings last played the Los Angeles Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Pacific. The Kings fired their head coach, Mike Brown, on Friday after a 13-18 start to the 2024-25 NBA season. Brown was fired just one day after the Kings’ 114-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons at the Golden 1 Center.
