DALLAS — In an intense contest between teams riddled with injuries, Quentin Grimes shone in his first appearance against his former team, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a thrilling 130-125 victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Grimes racked up 28 points, playing a critical role in Philadelphia’s rare victory — their third in 18 games.
Jalen Hood-Schifino contributed significantly as well, scoring 19 points for the Sixers. Meanwhile, despite the loss, P.J. Washington Jr. made an impressive comeback for Dallas. After sitting out the last eight games due to a sprained right ankle, Washington Jr. scored 29 points and collected 12 rebounds. Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall also added to the Mavericks’ effort by scoring 21 points each.
With this defeat, the Mavericks, last year’s Western Conference finalists, found themselves three games under the .500 mark, marking a season low. Their hold on the 10th position and the final play-in spot in the West is precariously thin, with just a game in hand over Phoenix, who faced the Los Angeles Lakers later on.
Both teams had a combined total of 19 players listed as unavailable due to injuries. Notable absences included Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis for Dallas, and Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey for the Sixers.
The trade saga that saw Grimes moving to Philadelphia unfolded when Dallas traded the former Mav to the 76ers in a move that followed the surprising trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Davis earlier in February.
A few noteworthy takeaways include Andre Drummond, the injured 76ers center, paying homage to Dirk Nowitzki by wearing a T-shirt with a depiction of Nowitzki’s iconic one-legged fadeaway shot during the game, symbolizing the legendary Mavericks star.
The absence of major players like Irving (out for the season with a torn ACL) and Davis (recovering from a strained groin) seemed evident as they sat on the sidelines in casual clothes. Meanwhile, the Sixers were without Embiid, George, and Maxey for the beginning of this critical six-game road trip, which is tied for their longest of the season.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Grimes converted two free throws, securing a 126-123 advantage with just 25 seconds left on the clock after a review confirmed a foul on Marshall. Another critical statistic was Philadelphia’s performance at the free-throw line — they shot 20 of 24 overall, making all their attempts in the crucial last 25 seconds.
Looking ahead, the 76ers are scheduled to complete a back-to-back set against Houston on Monday, while the Mavericks are set to travel to Indiana for a game on Wednesday.
