For the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers, Monday night’s clash at the Moda Center was more than just another regular-season NBA game—it was a litmus test for two Western Conference teams searching for momentum. Both squads entered the night with hopes of turning recent struggles into a statement win, but only one would leave with renewed confidence and a crucial notch in the standings.
Coming into the contest, the Mavericks (12-21) were reeling. They’d dropped four of their last five games, including a tough 113-107 loss to the Sacramento Kings just two nights prior. Road woes had become a theme, with Dallas suffering six straight defeats away from home and sporting a disappointing 3-12 record in hostile territory. Turnovers were a particular sore spot, as highlighted by their 21 giveaways against Sacramento. Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg admitted the grind was real: “It’s different,” Flagg said of the NBA schedule. “You don’t have as much time in between, you don’t get a break for holidays. It’s just different. You got to learn how to deal with it pretty quickly and figure it out on the go.”
Flagg, however, continued to shine even amid adversity. Against the Kings, he posted 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists, though he coughed up the ball five times. As the team’s leading scorer in their previous meeting with Portland—a 138-133 overtime thriller—Flagg’s growth has been one of Dallas’s few bright spots in an otherwise turbulent season. In that earlier November matchup, Flagg led a balanced attack with 21 points, one of seven Mavericks to hit double figures, and helped offset a monster 36-point night from Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe.
Dallas’s injury report was lengthy and concerning. Anthony Davis, who’s played just 16 of the team’s 33 games this season due to persistent adductor soreness, was listed as questionable. His absence against Sacramento was felt on both ends of the floor, especially defensively. Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), and Brandon Williams (calf) rounded out the Mavs’ list of walking wounded, leaving the lineup in flux and raising questions about who would step up against a scrappy Portland squad.
Portland (13-19), meanwhile, was riding a wave of optimism after snapping a three-game skid with a gutsy 114-108 upset over the Boston Celtics. The Blazers, 6-9 at home entering the Dallas game, had shown flashes of resilience thanks to their young core. Interim coach Tiago Splitter praised the team’s second-half turnaround against Boston, noting, “It’s tricky; it’s hard to tell them, ‘Don’t turn the ball over,’ because then the reaction, ‘Well, I’m going to be less aggressive.’ It’s a balance...they did a good job navigating those situations.”
Key contributors for Portland included Sharpe, who poured in 26 points and shot 5-of-8 from beyond the arc against the Celtics, and Deni Avdija, who added 24 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. Donovan Clingan also made his presence felt with 18 points and a staggering 18 boards. The Blazers’ injury list was even longer than Dallas’s, with Jerami Grant (Achilles) missing his sixth straight game and backcourt stalwarts like Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, and Damian Lillard all sidelined.
As tip-off approached, betting lines reflected the uncertainty. The Trail Blazers were slim favorites at -2.5, while the Mavericks were slight underdogs at +2.5. The over/under was set at 232.5, a nod to the offensive potential on both sides, though recent trends suggested a lower-scoring affair. Indeed, seven of Dallas’s last eight wins against the spread had been outright victories, and they held a remarkable 14-3 record in their previous 17 meetings with Portland.
From the opening whistle, both teams traded blows in a game that lived up to its billing. Early on, Portland’s ball movement and perimeter shooting kept them in front, with Avdija orchestrating the offense and Sharpe providing his trademark scoring punch. The Mavericks, however, refused to fold. Max Christie and Daniel Gafford chipped in with timely buckets, while Flagg battled through fatigue and defensive pressure to keep Dallas within striking distance. The first half saw Portland exploit Dallas’s defensive lapses, but the Mavericks countered with efficient shooting and a concerted effort on the glass.
As the game wore on, the intensity ratcheted up. Both benches contributed key minutes, with Brandon Williams and Naji Marshall making their presence felt for Dallas, while Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert offered sparks for the Blazers. The absence of Anthony Davis for Dallas was noticeable in the paint, where Clingan and Camara found room to operate. Yet, the Mavericks’ resilience shone through, with Flagg and Christie orchestrating a late third-quarter rally that set the stage for a dramatic finish.
In the fourth quarter, the action reached a fever pitch. With neither team able to build a comfortable lead, the game became a chess match of substitutions, defensive adjustments, and clutch shot-making. Avdija continued to impress, notching a double-double and serving as Portland’s heartbeat on both ends. Sharpe’s ability to create his own shot kept the Mavericks honest, but Dallas answered with a barrage of threes and a relentless attack at the rim.
Down the stretch, turnovers and free throws took on heightened importance. Both squads struggled to maintain composure under pressure, with Splitter’s earlier comments about balancing aggression and caution proving prophetic. Flagg, despite visible fatigue, found ways to impact the game beyond scoring—dishing out assists, grabbing rebounds, and contesting shots at the rim. Christie’s perimeter shooting was a lifeline for Dallas, while Williams’s slashing drives kept the defense guessing.
With the score seesawing in the final minutes, it was anyone’s game. The Mavericks’ recent dominance in the head-to-head series loomed large, but the Blazers’ home crowd urged their team to break the cycle. In a game filled with momentum swings and individual heroics, it was the little things—loose balls, second-chance points, and timely defensive stops—that made the difference.
When the dust settled, the Portland Trail Blazers eked out a thrilling 125-122 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Avdija led the way for Portland with 27 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists, while Sharpe added 24 points and five assists. Clingan’s double-double anchored the paint, and the Blazers’ balanced attack proved just enough to overcome Dallas’s late charge. For the Mavericks, Christie’s 25 points and Flagg’s all-around contributions (15 points, six rebounds, eight assists) were not enough to snap their road losing streak.
For both teams, the contest offered a blueprint for the challenges ahead. Dallas must address its turnover issues and find ways to win on the road, especially with key players still nursing injuries. Portland, buoyed by the growth of its young core and the steady hand of Avdija, can savor a hard-fought win while keeping an eye on the playoff race. As the Western Conference battle rages on, one thing’s clear: neither the Mavericks nor the Trail Blazers are backing down from the fight.
