PORTLAND, Ore. — Luka Doncic returned from a wrist injury and had 36 points in the Dallas Mavericks‘ 137-131 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.
An ecstatic Doncic, who missed five games, also had 13 assists in the Mavericks’ fourth straight win. And after it was all said and done, when asked his feelings by the club’s social media team, he responded gleefully: “Great! Very happy! A win!”
The Mavericks were missing Kyrie Irving, who had 30 points in a 106-94 win Saturday over the Utah Jazz, because of a sore shoulder. Dallas was also without Klay Thompson (left foot), Dereck Lively II (right knee) and Naji Marshall (illness).
But Doncic delivered, and injuries notwithstanding, he’s been thrilled with how the team has played over the past two weeks.
“Obviously, I think their pace was great. They were playing amazing,” Doncic said, when asked how he thought the team played in his absence. “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.”
Doncic closed the first half with a pair of 3-pointers and a 17-foot jumper to give the Mavericks the halftime lead.
Anfernee Simons had 27 points, including 24 in the third quarter, for the Blazers. And though Dallas led by 112-101 after Spencer Dinwiddie’s 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, Portland came back to tie it at 127 on Deni Avdija’s three-point play with 1:54 left.
P.J. Washington answered with a 3-pointer from the baseline for Dallas, and the Blazers couldn’t catch up.
Portland led by as many as 10 points in the opening quarter, but the Mavericks closed the gap for a 61-58 lead at the half. Quentin Grimes‘ dunk gave Dallas a 79-67 lead in the third, and the Mavs held a 100-97 advantage going into the final period.
In the win, Dallas center Daniel Gafford was inadvertently hit in the face in the first quarter and was treated on the floor before heading to the locker room, but he returned.
Meanwhile, Portland’s Scoot Henderson was unavailable for the third straight game with a left quad contusion.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.