Two teams trending in opposite directions meet in Dallas on Monday, when the Mavericks host the lowly Portland Trail Blazers.
Dallas, winners of 13 of its last 16 games, will look to extend Portland’s road woes, as the Blazers are just 3-12 away from home.
The Mavericks have adjusted well without superstar Luka Doncic, who’s missed eight games this season, including the last two with a left heel contusion, and is questionable for Monday’s matchup. Dallas is 6-2 without Doncic, whose 28.9 points per game rank fifth in the NBA entering Monday. He also leads the Mavs in rebounds (8.6), assists (8.2) and steals (2.1).
The injury isn’t expected to sideline Doncic for long, but in his absence, it’s been a balanced offensive effort for the Mavericks. In Saturday’s 113-97 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas had eight players score in double figures, including Quentin Grimes’ 20 off the bench and veteran Klay Thompson’s 16.
“(Quentin) is a pro. He works extremely hard,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “Whether you ask him to start, or if you ask him to come off the bench, he’s all about the team. That’s a quality we’ve learned quickly as a group, and it’s something that’s needed in this league. … Klay just goes out there and plays the game the right way and does what it takes for his team to win. He comes to work every day. He understands what we’re trying to do.”
Following Doncic’s lead, Kyrie Irving chips in 23.5 points per game, while Thompson is averaging 14.4 in his first season with the Mavericks.
Portland has dropped 11 of 14 games since Nov. 17, including a 1-7 mark in December. After Anfernee Simons’ buzzer-beating layup stunned the visiting Denver Nuggets on Thursday, Portland wasn’t competitive in a 20-point loss at San Antonio on Saturday.
Simons and Shaedon Sharpe’s guard play is crucial to Portland’s success, with each player averaging 17.7 ppg. As a former NBA guard, coach Chauncey Billups understands his team’s need for its big men to help the backcourt create offensive plays.
“We’ve spent some time working on the relationship between the guards and the bigs,” Billups said. “I feel like our team needs screens. Our point guards need screens to get open and make plays. Our bigs can set screens, they’re good rollers, but Shaedon and the guys on the wings need screens to get open.
“We’ve focused and spent a fair amount of time over the last couple weeks on just the relationship and the pick-and-roll, and I think we are getting better there.”
Coming off a 61-loss season — tied for second worst in franchise history — the Trail Blazers selected 7-foot-2 Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 overall pick in June’s draft.
Playing behind Deandre Ayton, Clingan has managed six points and 6.6 rebounds in under 17 minutes per contest. The UConn product, who has played 21 games, returned Dec. 13 after missing nearly three weeks with an MCL strain.
–Field Level Media
