The NBA’s brightest young superstar has picked up right where he left off. After missing five games with a wrist injury, Luka Doncic made a scintillating return to action, registering 36 points and 13 assists to power the short-handed Dallas Mavericks past the Portland Trail Blazers 137-131 on Sunday night.
The 24-year-old Slovenian sensation wasted no time re-establishing his dominance, pouring in a pair of clutch three-pointers and a mid-range jumper to give Dallas a narrow halftime lead they would not relinquish. His dazzling performance extended the Mavs’ winning streak to four games, an impressive feat considering they were without several key contributors.
Mavericks Overcome Injury Woes
Dallas entered the contest missing newly-acquired All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who was sidelined with a sore shoulder after dropping 30 points in Saturday’s win over Utah. Sharpshooter Klay Thompson, rookie center Dereck Lively II, and spark plug Naji Marshall were also unavailable due to various maladies.
But with Doncic back in the fold, the Mavericks had more than enough firepower to overcome the Blazers, who were paced by Anfernee Simons’ 27 points. Doncic was effusive in his praise of his teammates’ efforts during his absence.
“Obviously, I think their pace was great. They were playing amazing. So, I was just trying to adapt to that. They beat some tough teams, and I was just happy to sit back, watch and enjoy.”
– Luka Doncic on the Mavericks’ play while he was injured
Blazers’ Rally Falls Short
Portland made things interesting down the stretch, erasing a double-digit fourth quarter deficit to tie things up at 127-127 on Deni Avdija’s three-point play with just under two minutes remaining. But the Mavericks responded emphatically, as Spencer Dinwiddie drained a crucial trey to put them back in front for good.
The loss was a tough blow for the Blazers, who were again without dynamic rookie Scoot Henderson as he nurses a left quad contusion. They will have to regroup quickly as they face a brutal upcoming schedule featuring multiple clashes with playoff-bound opponents.
Doncic’s Dominant Return Bodes Well for Mavs
While there were certainly some tense moments, Doncic’s triumphant return should have Mavericks fans breathing a sigh of relief. The wrist injury did not appear to hamper him whatsoever, and his ability to seamlessly reintegrate himself into the lineup is an encouraging sign for a Dallas squad with championship aspirations.
Of course, the Mavs will need Irving and their other wounded contributors back in short order if they hope to make a deep postseason run. But with Doncic looking like his usual dominant self, they have the ultimate ace up their sleeve – a transcendent talent capable of carrying them to victory on any given night.
As the regular season enters its final stretch, the Mavericks find themselves in the thick of a crowded Western Conference playoff race. But if Doncic continues playing at this level, it’s hard to bet against them making some serious noise when the games matter most. The rest of the league has officially been put on notice.
But with Doncic back in the fold, the Mavericks had more than enough firepower to overcome the Blazers, who were paced by Anfernee Simons’ 27 points. Doncic was effusive in his praise of his teammates’ efforts during his absence.
“Obviously, I think their pace was great. They were playing amazing. So, I was just trying to adapt to that. They beat some tough teams, and I was just happy to sit back, watch and enjoy.”
– Luka Doncic on the Mavericks’ play while he was injured
Blazers’ Rally Falls Short
Portland made things interesting down the stretch, erasing a double-digit fourth quarter deficit to tie things up at 127-127 on Deni Avdija’s three-point play with just under two minutes remaining. But the Mavericks responded emphatically, as Spencer Dinwiddie drained a crucial trey to put them back in front for good.
The loss was a tough blow for the Blazers, who were again without dynamic rookie Scoot Henderson as he nurses a left quad contusion. They will have to regroup quickly as they face a brutal upcoming schedule featuring multiple clashes with playoff-bound opponents.
Doncic’s Dominant Return Bodes Well for Mavs
While there were certainly some tense moments, Doncic’s triumphant return should have Mavericks fans breathing a sigh of relief. The wrist injury did not appear to hamper him whatsoever, and his ability to seamlessly reintegrate himself into the lineup is an encouraging sign for a Dallas squad with championship aspirations.
Of course, the Mavs will need Irving and their other wounded contributors back in short order if they hope to make a deep postseason run. But with Doncic looking like his usual dominant self, they have the ultimate ace up their sleeve – a transcendent talent capable of carrying them to victory on any given night.
As the regular season enters its final stretch, the Mavericks find themselves in the thick of a crowded Western Conference playoff race. But if Doncic continues playing at this level, it’s hard to bet against them making some serious noise when the games matter most. The rest of the league has officially been put on notice.
