Mavericks complete 4th-quarter comeback to defeat Trail Blazers 117-111

The Mavericks secured a 117-111 comeback win over the Trail Blazers, led by Hardy's 25 points.

The Dallas Mavericks secured a thrilling 117-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, overcoming a sluggish start and finishing with an 18-2 run in the final minutes.

Despite missing star players Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks capitalized on strong individual performances, including Jaden Hardy’s 25-point outing and Dereck Lively’s first 20-point game of the season, finishing with 21 points and 16 rebounds.

 

 

 

 

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Portland jumped to an early 28-20 lead in the first quarter, aided by six offensive rebounds. Despite the slow start, Dallas closed the gap in the second quarter, but Portland's scorching three-point shooting kept them ahead. The Trail Blazers shot 10-of-18 from beyond the arc in the first half, and Dallas went into the break trailing by a significant margin.

In the second half, Dallas continued to fight back. They trimmed Portland’s lead to just one point, 74-73, in the third quarter, but the Trail Blazers responded with an 8-0 run to regain control. Throughout the fourth, the Mavericks made several attempts to close the gap, but Portland quickly answered each run, maintaining a solid lead for most of the period.

However, with about four minutes remaining and Dallas down by 10, the Mavericks turned the game around. Lively’s rim protection and offensive rebounding were key to limiting Portland’s scoring opportunities. With under two minutes remaining, PJ Washington hit a critical corner three-pointer, giving Dallas a three-point lead they would not relinquish.

 

 

 

 

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Portland, visibly exhausted, struggled in the closing minutes, scoring just two points in the final 4:23 as Dallas finished strong with an 18-2 run to seal the victory. The Mavericks’ resilience and defensive intensity proved too much for the Trail Blazers, who could not respond to the late surge.

Hardy praised the team's cohesion during the game, emphasizing their focus and unity despite the early challenges. "We did a great job of leaning on each other and sticking with it," he said. "We communicated well, played with energy, and capitalized on opportunities in transition."

This win, which marked the final matchup of the season between the two teams, highlighted Dallas’ depth, with key contributions from players stepping up in the absence of their star duo. Despite their struggles earlier in the season, the Mavericks’ performance against Portland reaffirmed their potential moving forward.