Luka Doncic’s outstanding triple-double performance, featuring 40 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, propelled the Dallas Mavericks to a 131-120 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers during the NBA’s Saturday slate.
Doncic dominated the first half with 30 points and secured his triple-double by the third quarter, marking his fifth of the season and the 61st in his career. The Slovenian superstar humbly credited his teammates as his approach changed in the second half as Portland adjusted their defense from drop coverage to blitzing, requiring the supporting cast to make plays.
“It’s everybody, it’s not just me. All my teammates helped me get to that.” Doncic said. “In the first half, I just went for it because they didn’t double me. And in the second half, they doubled me, so we just played out of that.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
With Kyrie Irving sidelined due to a right heel contusion, Tim Hardaway Jr. supported with 25 points, while Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. each contributed 18 points. Doncic praised his teammates, noting how their contributions allowed him to rest and exploit the 4-on-3 situations created by the Blazers’ double teams on him.
“It’s amazing,” Doncic said. “I can take some rest, too. It’s 4-on-3 basketball, the court is wide open, so we score a lot of points. We had so many open shots. When they double me, I like it.”
For Portland, Anfernee Simons led with 31 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Jerami Grant, returning from a concussion, added 27 points. Despite his strong comeback, Grant expressed his disappointment in the loss and initially acknowledged the team’s struggle to contain Doncic.
“It felt good to be back out there, but I wish we would have got the win,” Grant said. “We let Luka have a lot of easy ones, and then we had to make an adjustment.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
The Mavericks, who lost starter center Dereck Lively II to a left ankle injury in the first quarter, rebounded strongly in the second quarter, outscoring the Trail Blazers 38-24. Lively was later ruled for the remainder of the game and remains on the injury report. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd highlighted the character and trust within the team, led by Doncic’s example.
“We have a lot of character in that locker room, a lot of trust,” Kidd said. “When you have a leader like that, it’s easy to follow.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Doncic, who scored 22 points in the first quarter, was initially issued a technical foul for shooting after the buzzer, which was later rescinded. By halftime, Dallas had built a commanding 74-63 lead, often sustaining a double-figure advantage in the fourth quarter to close the game.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks are set to play a road matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, while the Trail Blazers will host the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night.
