Kyrie Irving Scores 46, but Shorthanded Mavericks Fall to Blazers: “It’s Just About Will”
The Dallas Mavericks (20-12) fought hard but ultimately fell short in a 126-122 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers (11-20) at the Moda Center on Saturday night. Despite a sensational 46-point performance from Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks couldn’t overcome a sluggish start on the second night of a back-to-back and a shorthanded rotation.
Portland took full advantage of Dallas’ defensive struggles, with four players scoring over 20 points and another coming just one point short. Sharpe’s 23 points led Portland’s balanced attack. Deandre Ayton and Deni Avdija each scored 21, while Anfernee Simons chipped in 22 points and eight assists. Scoot Henderson contributed 19 off the bench.
“You’ve got to give them credit. They play well here in Portland. When a team has four guys scoring over 20, it’s going to make an impact,” Irving said. “They were very comfortable at the end. Scoot was playing out of his mind. Coming off a game-winner, it felt like carry-over. He played free, hit threes even off a head fake. I haven’t seen that. They did things we didn’t see on film last time. You’ve got to give credit. Their coach made adjustments.”
The Mavericks entered the contest without several key contributors. Luka Dončić (left calf strain), Danté Exum (right wrist surgery), and Dereck Lively II (left hip contusion) were ruled out, while Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington served suspensions from their involvement in the altercation during Friday night’s game against Phoenix. The absence of frontcourt size and perimeter defense left Dallas exposed, and Portland wasted no time capitalizing.
While the defense left plenty to be desired on the second night of a back-to-back, there were some solid performances in addition to Irving’s explosive scoring night. Spencer Dinwiddie added 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Daniel Gafford contributed 15 points and nine rebounds. Quentin Grimes scored an efficient 15 points off the bench. Dallas received 12 points from Klay Thompson, but he shot 5-of-17 from the floor and 2-of-8 from deep.
Portland Trail Blazers Set the Tone Early
The Trail Blazers established control early, jumping to a 36-25 lead by the end of the first quarter. In the opening frame, Ayton and Sharpe combined for 19 points, with Ayton dominating the paint and Sharpe thriving in transition and from beyond the arc.
Kyrie Irving kept the Mavericks afloat with nine first-quarter points, using a mix of mid-range jumpers and finishes at the rim. However, Portland’s ability to get easy buckets highlighted Dallas’ defensive woes.
“We didn’t get any resistance early,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd admitted. “We talked about their ability to score, and that’s exactly what they did. They scored 36 in the first quarter, and that set the tone for the game. The second half was better, but the first quarter really put us in a hole that was tough to climb out of.”
Kidd’s frustrations were echoed by Quentin Grimes, who spoke about the defensive breakdowns.
“We just didn’t come out with the right energy and mindset,” Grimes said. “You can’t expect to win games in this league when you’re digging yourself out of a 15-point hole by the second quarter. We fought hard, but it was just too late.”
Kyrie Irving Erupts in the Second Quarter
As the second quarter began, Irving flipped the switch. He scored 15 points in the period, relentlessly attacking Portland’s drop coverage and pushing the pace. Irving knocked down contested jumpers, hit floaters in the lane, and orchestrated the offense when double-teamed.
“I just tried to pick my spots,” Irving said. “They were giving me the mid-range, so I took it. When they pressed up, I tried to get downhill. It’s about taking what the defense gives you, and tonight, I felt like I could get to my spots consistently.”
Dallas cut the deficit to nine midway through the second after Hardy, who had recently been out of the rotation, connected on a corner three.
Despite the offensive resurgence, Dallas couldn’t consistently stop Portland. The Blazers responded to each Mavericks run with timely baskets, keeping the lead at 69-59 entering halftime. By that point, five Blazers had already reached double figures, led by Sharpe’s 16 points.
During the first half, the Mavericks experimented with different strategies, including going with four guards on the perimeter. Irving communicated how the team had to get creative with the approach, considering the amount of injuries. However, he emphasized the need for the team to contain dribble penetration better.
“I trust Jason, I trust our coaching staff to put us in the best position. It was a rhythm game tonight. We were trying pieces, and a few guys are coming back from injury.” Irving said. “Jason’s still trying to get his rhythm. Maxi is in there playing small ball for us. We’re going to have lineup changes, and we just have to adjust. Other teams will try to get into our paint more when our bigs aren’t in. We just have to stay in front of our guys more and rely on our help defense. It’s part of our identity—helping each other.”
Portland Trail Blazers Pull Away After Halftime
Portland reasserted control in the third quarter, using a 14-5 run to stretch the lead to 21 points. Ayton continued to punish Dallas on the boards while Simons and Henderson attacked the Mavericks’ weakened perimeter defense. Irving, who had logged 27 minutes by then, was briefly rested as the deficit grew before playing all but 16 seconds of the fourth quarter, ending with 39 minutes.
“We have to do a better job of starting strong out of halftime,” Kidd said. “We can’t allow teams to go on those kinds of runs, especially when we’re already shorthanded. That’s something we’ve got to clean up.”
Dinwiddie stepped up in Irving’s absence, scoring through contact and knocking down free throws. Still, the Blazers maintained their offensive rhythm, entering the fourth quarter with a comfortable 97-82 lead.
“We definitely could have done a better job keeping the game closer,” Irving said. “Getting down like that, I don’t want to say it’s characteristic for us, but we’re used to it to a degree—being able to get out of holes and still give ourselves a chance. Most teams would give up, especially on a back-to-back, but our identity is we don’t give up. We just throw our best effort out there.”
Kyrie Irving Uses Late Heroics to Keep the Dallas Mavericks Close
Irving returned in the fourth quarter, determined to lead a comeback. He scored 13 points in the final frame, including back-to-back threes and a difficult reverse layup through contact.
“It’s just about will,” Irving said. “I wasn’t going to let us go down without a fight. I take pride in competing every possession, no matter what the scoreboard says. That’s the mentality we need to have as a team.”
Dinwiddie and Thompson provided secondary scoring, with Thompson hitting a critical jumper to cut the lead to six with under four minutes remaining. But as Dallas seemed poised to close the gap, Thompson missed a contested pull-up that could have made it a one-possession game. Irving saw room for improvement.
“Tonight, we got to the free-throw line late, got into the lane, but with no real interior presence,” Irving said. “Trying to make a comeback, you’re down six, then it goes to eight, and we’re playing tit-for-tat. The flow could have gone differently with better shot selection. I took a pull-up three when I could’ve gotten us a better possession. Klay had a good look before that. Both shots were good, but if you don’t convert and there’s a long rebound, the other team settles the game down and makes you guard.”
On the other end, Ayton secured a key offensive rebound and converted the putback, restoring Portland’s lead to eight. Avdija drove to the rim and drew a foul on the next possession, hitting both free throws to seal the win for Portland. It proved challenging for Dallas to contain that combination in pick-and-roll.
“It’s just who he is,” Kidd said of Irving’s performance. “He loves to compete and kept us alive in the fourth. We just couldn’t get the stops we needed at the end.”
Looking Ahead
Dallas will look to rebound against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. With Luka Dončić still sidelined and Lively’s status remaining uncertain, Kyrie Irving will be critical. Washington’s suspension is over, so that should bring a boost, but Marshall still has three more games to serve.
“It’s an important stretch,” Irving said. “We have to stay together and weather the storm. The season is long, and this is just part of it. We’ll learn from this and keep pushing forward.”
As the Mavericks navigate this problematic stretch without Dončić, their ability to tighten up defensively and find more consistent contributions from the supporting cast will determine their success in the highly competitive Western Conference.
