The Dallas Mavericks are having fun with their finest stretch of the season, and most of it has been achieved with out celebrity guard Luka Doncic.
Dallas will try to win for the eighth time in 9 video games when it visits the Portland Path Blazers on Sunday night time.
Doncic watched Saturday’s 106-94 highway win over the Utah Jazz resulting from a wrist sprain and once more is predicted to be a spectator for the sixth straight recreation. Teammate Klay Thompson (foot) doubtless will sit out for the fourth consecutive recreation.
Kyrie Irving performed the starring position towards Utah with 30 factors, 9 assists and 4 steals. He additionally tied a season excessive with six 3-pointers and is averaging 28.0 factors over the previous 4 video games.
Dallas additionally acquired a giant recreation from Quentin Grimes, who made 5 treys whereas scoring a season-best 24 factors. It was his second straight 20-point outing following his 21-point efficiency throughout Wednesday’s 129-114 residence victory over the New York Knicks.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd was proud of the best way Irving dealt with issues when the Jazz made a push within the third quarter on Saturday.
“The way in which he goes in regards to the recreation, understanding when it is time to go and when it is time for others to go — he does a very good job of pushing the others to attain,” Kidd mentioned afterward. “We bought some stops and that led to our tempo the place we might get out and run. I believed Ky did job of pushing and getting us some simple ones on the rim.”
The Mavericks ran to a 40-22 first-quarter lead towards the Jazz earlier than their play started to plummet. Dallas had simply 16 second-quarter factors to guide by seven at halftime.
“It might’ve gone both method,” Irving mentioned of the competition. “We simply needed to keep mentally locked in and ensure we completed the sport.”
Portland, in the meantime, dropped 4 of 5 video games earlier than notching a 115-106 residence win over the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Deandre Ayton scored a season-high 26 factors and picked up 9 rebounds with a powerful efficiency within the center to guide the Path Blazers.
“Simply attacking the paint and getting as many paint touches and transferring the ball,” Ayton mentioned of the success within the inside. “Simply being assured in our photographs and ending them.
“Hats off to my backcourt for getting me going and being on me and simply speaking to me about being the final line of protection.”
The Path Blazers additionally acquired sturdy efforts from Anfernee Simons (21 factors, 9 assists), Deni Avdija (20 factors, 9 rebounds) and Dalano Banton (17 factors, career-high 5 steals).
Banton famous the win over the Kings was pivotal and left Portland 2-1 in West Group A play of the NBA Cup competitors.
The Houston Rockets have clinched first place within the group whereas Portland, the Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2) and Los Angeles Clippers (1-2) are nonetheless within the combine. The Path Blazers will go to the Clippers on Tuesday.
“This in-season event, I believe it is large for all gamers,” Banton mentioned. “Not simply our group, however I believe everybody. It brings an entire totally different side to the sport with the totally different court docket and the vitality that it brings. I really feel prefer it’s wonderful. And we actually do wish to qualify for the following spherical.”
Path Blazers ahead Jerami Grant (knee) and level guard Scoot Henderson (quadriceps) are listed as questionable for Sunday’s recreation. Grant has missed the final two video games whereas Henderson has sat out 4 of the previous 5.
The Mavericks received all 4 of final season’s conferences with the Path Blazers and have taken 10 of the previous 12.
–Area Degree Media
