Trail Blazers 126-122 Mavericks (Dec 28, 2024) Game Summary

On By Littum

PORTLAND, Ore. — — Shaedon Sharpe had 23 points, Anfernee Simons scored 22 and the Portland Trail Blazers held off the Dallas Mavericks 126-122 on Saturday night.

Deandre Ayton had 21 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks, and Deni Avdija had 21 points, five rebounds and five assists. Scoot Henderson had 19 points, four rebounds, six assists and a career-high five steals off the bench.

Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 46 points and was the only consistent offensive threat for the Mavericks, who played without Naji Marshall, PJ Washington — suspended for their participation in a fight on the courts against the Sun – Luka Doncic and Dereck Lively II.

Irving had 20 points in the fourth quarter as Dallas attempted a comeback that ultimately fell short.

Takeaways

Blazers: Saturday was Portland’s second straight win, just their second winning streak of the season.

Mavericks: Outside of Irving, no other Mavericks player was able to carry the scoring load with much of Dallas’ rotation out due to either injury or suspension.

Key moment

After Dallas mounted a fourth-quarter comeback, Ayton stole the ball from Thompson at the rim with 20 seconds left to ice the game.

Key state

Portland outshot Dallas 50-40 and outshot them 58-38.

Next

The Blazers face the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Monday night. The Mavericks face the Kings in Sacramento on the same night.

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AP NBA: