DHJ Quick Take
- The Return: Brandon Williams scored 11 points with 6 assists in his return from concussion protocol against the Denver Nuggets.
- Portland Ties: Williams, whose NBA debut came with the Trail Blazers, previews a physical road test against his former team at Moda Center.
- Locker Room Fun: Williams poked fun at teammate Daniel Gafford after his Arizona Wildcats eliminated Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Brandon Williams missed three games for the Dallas Mavericks after sustaining a concussion, requiring him to go through the NBA’s protocol, and made his return to the lineup in Wednesday’s 142-135 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
“I had to go through a lot with the protocol and everything, so that was a lot itself,” Williams said Friday at shootaround in Portland. “Just trying to get my legs back — last game was kind of a crazy one to come back to in Denver with the altitude and everything. But it was fun. It was good. It made me ready for tonight.”
Analyzing Brandon Williams’ Role in the Dallas Mavericks’ Backcourt
Williams finished with 11 points and 6 assists in 19 minutes against Denver. While he missed two critical free throws with the Mavericks down one late in the fourth quarter, he was instrumental in keeping turnovers to four against the Nuggets, an area the team has focused on improving lately after turning it over 21 times against the Golden State Warriors on Monday.
“Just being solid at the end of the day. Not really forcing things,” Williams said. “I know in the Toronto game — I watch that one often — I turned the ball over a lot. So just seeing what the defense gives, not forcing it, picking and choosing when to force it, and just making plays.”
The impact Williams had in Denver drew praise from P.J. Washington, who felt that Williams’ ability to get downhill and create for teammates provided a needed boost.
“His pace,” Washington said. “We missed his pace, his quickness, his ability to get downhill, find others, and score. I think he was himself tonight. He’s just happy to be back, and we’re happy for him too. He’s just being himself and being the great player he is.”
Leaning on conversations with Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, Williams knew exactly what the team needed when he returned to game action, emphasizing the need to leverage speed, pace, and his all-around strengths.
“I saw what the team was missing when I was gone — speed, pace, kind of my strengths,” Williams said. “So coming in, I knew exactly what to do. Talking to Coach Kidd helped a lot as well.”
Williams is averaging 12.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 61 games this season. During a season that Kyrie Irving has been recovering from ACL surgery, the Mavericks have needed guards to step up, and Williams has done precisely that. The 26-year-old guard is playing out the final year of a $2.32 million contract that became fully guaranteed on Jan. 10.
Brandon Williams Previews Dallas Mavericks’ Physical Matchup Against the Portland Trail Blazers
Friday’s game in Portland carries a personal footnote. Williams’s first NBA game came with the Trail Blazers — and he believes it may have actually been against Dallas.
“I do remember that game. It might’ve actually been against Dallas,” Williams said. “I remember going against Brandon Knight. That was when the COVID situation was flaring up, and he got COVID the next day. I was about to go back to LA — my hometown — on a 10-day [contract] at the time. Then I got COVID right before the flight, so I couldn’t go home. But yeah, I definitely remember that day. That’s crazy.”
Williams also noted that Portland did not have a G League affiliate at the time, so he was on the main roster throughout his stint there.
“They didn’t have a G League team at the time, so I was up with the main team the whole time,” he said. “That was kind of fun.”
When looking ahead to Friday’s game, Williams shared a clear read on what tonight’s matchup presents. Portland has won five of its last six games to get back to .500 for the first time in over two months, and has clinched a postseason berth for the first time in five seasons. The Blazers have won four of their last five at Moda Center and are chasing eighth place in the Western Conference, making each home game essentially a playoff game for interim coach Tiago Splitter‘s group.
“A lot. They’re really physical — especially adding Drew back into the lineup,” Williams said. “They’re going to be super physical on the ball, picking up full court, be a little rowdy. So it’s kind of the same thing as last game — be poised, be under control as a point guard, and keep turnovers down.”
March Madness Rivalries: Brandon Williams Brags About Arizona’s Win Over Arkansas
Williams also took a moment Friday to have some fun at his teammates’ expense. Several Mavericks players have been wearing their college practice jerseys during March Madness — a tradition that ends when their school gets eliminated. Williams went to Arizona, which is still dancing, and made sure everyone knew it after the Arizona Wildcats beat the Arkansas Razorbacks on Thursday. Cooper Flagg and Marvin Bagley III both went to Duke and are still alive in the tournament.
“It’s good. I brag about it every day,” Williams said with a smile. “I told Marvin and Coop I don’t know if they’re going to have their jerseys after tonight. It was good to beat up on Arkansas yesterday. I gave Gafford some trash talk too, for sure.”
The Mavericks have played a league-most 42 clutch games this season — defined as a game with a score within five points or less in the final five minutes of regulation. Williams sees the volume of those experiences as something that will pay dividends beyond this year.
“That’s a crazy number. But it’s good,” Williams said. “Even if it’s not turning into wins, the experience is more than anything we can ask for. Even if it’s not for this year, it’ll help next year and later in our careers.”
He paused, then added what the loss had specifically taught him.
“We’re going against the best teams and best players in the league, seeing what they do and how we respond,” Williams said. “The runs they make toward the end of games — that’s big for us.”
The Mavericks tip off against the Trail Blazers at 9 p.m. CT at Moda Center on Friday.
More Dallas Mavericks Coverage Ahead of Tonight’s Game in Portland
- Cooper Flagg Not Listed On Dallas Mavericks Injury Report Against Portland Trail Blazers After Hand Injury Scare
- Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin Ruled Out As Dallas Mavericks Update Injury Report Against Portland Trail Blazers
- Brandon Williams’ Return Gives Dallas Mavericks A Needed Boost In Loss To Denver Nuggets
- ‘Get Ready For The Next One’: Cooper Flagg Addresses Right Hand Injury After Dallas Mavericks’ Loss To Denver Nuggets
- New NBA Mock Draft Links Dallas Mavericks To Guard Compared To Jamal Murray
- ‘I Like Making The Right Play’: Cooper Flagg Shows Decision‑Making Beyond His Years As NBA’s Youngest Player
