The Dallas Mavericks won’t have Luka Doncic back on the court for at least another month but they aren’t having issues recording victories without his services.
The Mavericks will attempt to improve to 8-2 without Doncic this season when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.
Doncic sustained a left calf strain during a Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But Dallas operated just fine without him on Friday night when it notched a 98-89 road victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Sidekick Kyrie Irving made his first four shots but was just 6 of 21 overall for 20 points as Dallas used a team effort to win for the 15th time in the past 19 games.
Irving is counting on the success continuing against Portland.
“We can’t drop any games,” Irving said after Friday’s win. “This is an important part of the season. This is where teams either start dropping off or improving.”
Four other Mavericks scored in double digits as Dallas picked up the slack without Doncic.
It happened just the way Mavericks coach Jason Kidd envisioned.
“Injuries are injuries,” Kidd said before the victory when discussing Doncic. “He’s had a couple this year. We’ve played without him. Next-man-up mentality and that’s what we’re facing now. … The depth of our team is being tested and those guys in that locker room are up for that test.”
The Mavericks routed Portland 132-108 on Monday when the teams met in Dallas. Doncic had a game-high 27 points and Daniel Gafford had a season-best 23 on 7-of-7 shooting for the Mavericks.
It marked the second time this season that Dallas defeated Portland. The Mavericks have won the past six meetings.
Portland lost eight of nine games before producing a 122-120 home win over the Utah Jazz on Thursday.
The Trail Blazers prevailed when second-year guard Scoot Henderson made the tiebreaking shot with 0.1 seconds left.
“You dream of plays like that,” Henderson said afterward. “I was going to end up taking the last shot anyway. I had the ball in my hands.”
Henderson had 18 points and matched his season best of 10 assists against the Jazz. It was his third straight double-digit scoring effort following a three-game stretch in which he averaged 4.3 points on 4-of-24 shooting.
Henderson didn’t agree with the assertion that he needed a confidence boost like what happened Thursday.
“I don’t need nothing,” Henderson said. “I need my family, my support, and God. Everything else is gonna be up and down anyway. So, I don’t think I needed a game like this.”
Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija offered that it was indeed a big deal for Henderson to come through in the clutch.
“When I see his success, and I see him making that big shot with confidence, that’s what a player needs is to keep shooting and to keep believing in himself,” Avdija said of Henderson.
Avdija stood out as well with a season-best 27 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists. He made 9 of 13 from the field.
Shaedon Sharpe also scored 27 points and knocked down five 3-pointers. Deandre Ayton added 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups will his miss second straight game. He is away for his grandmother’s funeral.
Assistant Nate Bjorkgren is serving as acting coach.
Avdija scored a team-high 19 points in the Monday loss in Dallas.
–Field Level Media
