Luka Doncic returned from injury with a strong performance, scoring 36 points, adding 13 assists, and grabbing seven rebounds to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Portland Trail Blazers 137-131 on Sunday night.
Doncic, who missed the previous five games due to a wrist injury, was 15 of 24 from the field and led the Mavericks to their eighth win in the last nine games.
Quentin Grimes had a season-high 28 points, shooting 5 of 7 from three-point range, marking his third consecutive game with over 20 points.
Spencer Dinwiddie contributed 20 points off the bench for the Mavericks, while Daniel Gafford scored 19 points. P.J. Washington added 14 points, and Jaden Hardy finished with 13 points.
For the Trail Blazers, Anfernee Simons led with 27 points, Shaedon Sharpe had 22, and Deni Avdija added 21 points. Portland lost their fifth game in the last seven.
Deandre Ayton scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Toumani Camara added 17 points, and Jerami Grant contributed 14 points and six assists for Portland.
Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and Klay Thompson (foot) did not play for the Mavericks, who shot 55.2 percent from the field and made 18 of 36 three-point attempts.
Portland was without Scoot Henderson (quadriceps) and shot 58.3 percent from the field, hitting 18 of 31 three-pointers.
The Mavericks started the fourth quarter strong, scoring 12 of the first 16 points to take a 112-101 lead on Dinwiddie’s three-pointer with 9:11 left.
Portland fought back, and after Camara’s three-pointer and a dunk by Dalano Banton, they closed the gap to 123-122 with 3:39 remaining.
Portland tied the game at 127 with a three-point play by Avdija with 1:54 left. Washington then put Dallas back ahead with a three-pointer with 54.1 seconds to go.
Gafford added a dunk to give the Mavericks a five-point lead with 29.2 seconds left, and Grimes made two free throws to secure the win.
Doncic had 20 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in the first half, helping Dallas lead 61-58 at halftime. Ayton led Portland with 14 points in the first half.
Simons, who had just three points in the first half, exploded in the third quarter, scoring 24 points, including four three-pointers.
Grimes hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give Dallas a 100-97 lead at the end of the third quarter, with both teams scoring 39 points in that period.
