The Dallas Mavericks are on their best run of the season, and much of their success has come without their star player, Luka Doncic.
Dallas will try to win its eighth game in nine tries when it faces the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.
Doncic missed Saturday’s 106-94 win over the Utah Jazz because of a wrist sprain, and he is expected to sit out again for the sixth straight game. Klay Thompson (foot injury) is also likely to miss his fourth consecutive game.
Kyrie Irving stepped up against the Jazz, scoring 30 points, dishing out nine assists, and grabbing four steals. He also tied his season-high with six 3-pointers and is averaging 28.0 points per game over the last four games.
The Mavericks also got a big performance from Quentin Grimes, who hit five 3-pointers and scored a season-high 24 points. This came after he scored 21 points in a 129-114 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd was pleased with how Irving handled the game when the Jazz made a run in the third quarter on Saturday.
“The way he goes about the game, understanding when it’s time to go and when it’s time for others to go — he does a really good job of pushing the others to score,” Kidd said after the game. “We got some stops, and that led to our pace where we could get out and run. I thought Ky did a good job of pushing and getting us some easy ones at the rim.”
Dallas got off to a strong start against the Jazz, taking a 40-22 lead in the first quarter. However, their play dropped in the second quarter, and they led by just seven points at halftime.
“It could’ve gone either way,” Irving said about the game. “We just had to stay mentally locked in and make sure we finished the game.”
Portland, on the other hand, had lost four of its last five games before defeating the Sacramento Kings 115-106 at home on Friday.
Deandre Ayton led the Trail Blazers with a season-high 26 points and nine rebounds, dominating in the paint.
“Just attacking the paint and getting as many paint touches and moving the ball,” Ayton said about their success inside. “Just being confident in our shots and finishing them.”
Ayton also gave credit to his teammates for getting him involved. “Hats off to my backcourt for getting me going and being on me and just talking to me about being the last line of defense,” he added.
The Trail Blazers also got strong performances from Anfernee Simons (21 points, nine assists), Deni Avdija (20 points, nine rebounds), and Dalano Banton (17 points, career-high five steals).
Banton said the win against the Kings was important and helped Portland go 2-1 in West Group A of the NBA Cup competition.
While the Houston Rockets have secured first place in the group, Portland, the Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2), and the Los Angeles Clippers (1-2) are still fighting for a spot. The Trail Blazers will face the Clippers on Tuesday.
“This in-season tournament, I think it’s big for all players,” Banton said. “Not just our team, but I think everyone. It brings a whole different aspect to the game with the different court and the energy that it brings. I feel like it’s amazing. And we really do want to qualify for the next round.”
Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (knee) and point guard Scoot Henderson (quadriceps) are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Grant has missed the last two games, while Henderson has sat out four of the past five.
The Mavericks won all four games against the Trail Blazers last season and have won 10 of the last 12 meetings.
