Despite Lillard’s 47 Points, Dallas Mavericks Defeat Portland Trail Blazers, 133-125

Although Damian Lillard had another crazy night, his Portland trail Blazers lost at home against the Dallas Mavericks. The result of the game played at the Moda center was 133-125 for the guests from Texas.

“I wish we would play this way at home,” said Luka Doncic following the game.

Damian Lillard dropped 47 points, which wasn’t enough in the end for the Blazers to beat the Mavs and their diverse offense. Furthermore, it is good that the hosts managed to reduce a massive deficit they had midway through the third; otherwise, this would easily turn out to be one of their biggest defeats this season.

With 7:49 to go until the end of the third, Dallas had a 25-point edge, 93-68, and was humiliating the Blazers in all aspects of the game. Yet, the hosts scored 17 straight points to cut the deficit and to try to make a miracle, which eventually didn’t happen. Soon enough, Doncic and the crew again created a double-digit advantage to beat the Western Conference finalist from the previous year.

The two sides have combined for 43 three-pointers tying the NBA record, on one side, the Mavs dropped 22 and the Blazers one fewer. But that is not all. Both teams were extremely accurate from downtown, with Dallas hitting 46.8% of their shots, and Portland being even better, 53.3%.

Lillard had 47 points, after a game in which he dropped 61, thus becoming the first-ever Blazers who scored 100 buckets combined in back-to-back games. He was 16-of-28 from the field, hitting 8 threes, and posting 8 assists and 6 rebounds.

Trevor Ariza had a great debut after being traded from Sacramento Kings, and in 36 minutes on the floor, he recorded 21 points, 7 boards and was shooting 4-of-6 behind the three-point line.

Gary Trent Jr. added 20 off the bench, missing just one of his seven attempts from downtown. Carmelo had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, same as Hassan Whiteside with 14 and 10.

On the other side, Doncic scored 27 points had 9 assists snd 6 boards, and was again bad from three-point territory, 2-of-11. Just before the game, the results on the All-Star starting lineups came out, and the youngster earned his first appearance there.

“It was amazing,” Luka said on his achievement. “It was something I thought it was never going to happen in my life. It was just something special. I got pretty emotional, you know I used to dream as a kid of just being in the NBA, now I can play in the All-Star game, it is just unbelievable.”

The youngest to start since @KingJames. Congrats, @luka7doncic! ✨
(@bedgear) pic.twitter.com/kAjl21dZdo

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) January 24, 2020

Kristaps Porzingis had 20 buckets, Seth Curry 17 same as Jalen Brunson, and both of them drilled four threes. Maxi Kleber added 15, while Dorian Finney-Smith had a double-double 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Mavs (28-16) continue their journey through the Northwest division with a game in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz tomorrow, and after that head to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Monday. Their first home game after that will be on Tuesday against the Suns.

On the other side, the Trail Blazers (19-27) have two more matches at home and both are extremely tough. The first is this Sunday against the Indiana Pacers, and after that they host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. After that Dime and the crew head for LA to meet LeBron James and the Lakers.