NBA: Closing 18-2 burst vaults Mavericks over Trail Blazers
Jan 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (1) celebrates after he makes a three point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of an NBA game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jaden Hardy came off the bench to score a season-high 25 points and the Dallas Mavericks closed with an 18-2 run to rally for a 117-111 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA on Thursday night.
P.J. Washington recorded 23 points, 14 rebounds and three steals, and Dereck Lively II added 21 points, a season-best 16 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Mavericks. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 17 points and Quentin Grimes added 13 for Dallas, which won its second game in a row following a five-game skid.
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Shaedon Sharpe had 22 points and eight rebounds, and Anfernee Simons also had 22 for Portland, which led nearly the entire contest before the late collapse.
Scoot Henderson had 20 points off the bench and Donovan Clingan recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Article continues after this advertisementPlayin’ great basketball. @DereckLively // #MFFL pic.twitter.com/wgBYf6r3ap
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) January 10, 2025
Thursday’s game was moved up one hour due to inclement weather in Dallas.
The Mavericks continued to play without stars Luka Doncic (calf) and Kyrie Irving (back).
Dallas trailed by 10 with 4 1/2 minutes left before ripping off 16 consecutive points. Washington scored seven of them, including a 3-pointer with 1:58 remaining as Dallas took a 112-109 lead, just its second advantage of the game.
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Grimes added a three-point play with 31.8 seconds remaining as the Mavericks moved ahead by six and closed out the victory.
The Mavericks connected on 45.5 percent of their shots and were 10 of 30 from behind the arc. Naji Marshall added 11 points for Dallas.
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) and forward Naji Marshall (13) celebrate during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Portland shot 41.9 percent from the field, including 16 of 36 from 3-point range.
The Mavericks moved within three early in the fourth quarter before the Trail Blazers scored eight straight points. Simons capped the run with a floater in the lane to give Portland a 99-88 lead with 8:52 left in the game.
Dallas made another push to get within four on Hardy’s basket with 5:09 remaining. However, Sharpe and Toumani Camara answered with consecutive treys to give the Trail Blazers a 109-99 lead with 4:33 remaining before the comeback by the Mavericks.
Portland started fast by taking a 14-4 lead.
Dallas took its only lead of the first 46 minutes on Dinwiddie’s 3-pointer for a 40-38 edge with 6:54 left in the first half.
At the break, Portland led 58-53 behind 12 points from Sharpe. Hardy scored 18 for the Mavericks.
In the third quarter, Dallas rattled off eight straight points and moved within 74-73 on Marshall’s basket with 5:17 left.
The Trail Blazers answered with a 13-2 spurt, with Henderson’s tip-in making it 87-75 with 2:04 remaining.
Portland led 89-81 entering the final stanza. –Field Level Media
