DALLAS — Luka Doncic made a strong return to the court, scoring 27 points in a decisive 132-108 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. His performance followed a two-game absence due to a contusion on his left heel. Doncic notched seven rebounds and seven assists while shooting 10 for 19 from the field, although he struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just one of seven attempts.
The Mavericks continue to impress, having secured 14 wins in their last 17 games since facing their only losing streak of the season, which lasted from November 8 to November 14. Daniel Gafford contributed significantly from the bench with 23 points, and Kyrie Irving added 20 points to the tally.
For the Trail Blazers, Deni Avdija led the team with 19 points off the bench, but the team has been struggling, having lost eight of their last nine matches. Deandre Ayton also made an impact with 16 points, including an impressive 10-point quarter.
The Mavericks dominated the second quarter, starting with a 21-9 run, and they outscored the Blazers 74-45 during the crucial middle periods of the game. They built a significant lead, at one point going up by as many as 32 points in the fourth quarter.
Highlighted performances included P.J. Washington’s impressive first half, where he scored 12 points by successfully sinking all four of his field goal attempts, including two triples. The Mavericks managed to place five players in double figures by halftime, following a previous game where they had eight players reach that milestone in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
A notable moment in the game occurred when Klay Thompson rebounded a missed three-pointer from Shaedon Sharpe with just 17 seconds remaining in the half. Thompson swiftly moved down the court and made a three-pointer with 8.3 seconds left, increasing Dallas’ lead to 62-51, their largest lead of the half.
While Thompson aimed to match Reggie Miller for the fifth all-time spot in career three-pointers made, he ended up shooting three for eight from beyond the arc, needing just five more makes to tie.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Christmas Day, while the Trail Blazers will kick off a three-game homestand on Thursday, starting with a matchup against Utah.
