Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic entertain in duel as shorthanded Trail Blazers escape Dallas with win

Yash Matange

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Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic entertain in duel as shorthanded Trail Blazers escape Dallas with win image

This contest between two talented deep teams, that are led by superstar point guards in Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic, did not disappoint.

It was a game of quarters as each team traded runs before the visiting Trail Blazers survived and managed a road victory after Doncic's late potential game-tying 3-pointer rimmed out. 

Both All-Star point guards led the way, putting up big numbers, but received plenty of support from their teammates as the Blazers won their fourth straight while snapping the Mavericks' four-game win streak. 

Lillard delivers again, sparks big 3rd Q

Portland has been without key starters in CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic for nearly a month now but they've been able to tread water and still win games. Lillard's play combined with some big games from their role players has allowed them to win including seven of their last nine.

In this game, they created separation - one that allowed them to withstand the Mavericks late rally - by scoring 45 points in the third quarter, matching the franchise record for most in the that quarter.

Lillard scored 16 of his team-high 34 in the third quarter while also dishing out five dimes, which resulted in 14 points. He finished with 11 of the team's 15 assists for the game. Robert Covington scored 10 of his 15 and recorded three of his four steals for the game in the third quarter. 

The Trail Blazers outscored the Mavericks by 15 in the period, however, they went cold in the final quarter and needed some late-game heroics from Lillard and Carmelo Anthony to seal the victory. 

Lillard and Covington were two of six Blazers to score in double figures. Anthony and young guard Anfernee Simons scored a combined 27 points off the bench while Gary Trent Jr. was the team's second-highest scorer with 17. 

Doncic's steady scoring keeps Mavs interested

The 21-year-old Slovenian finished the game with 44 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds - scoring at least 10 in every quarter of the game.

His scoring tally of 88 over the past two games gave him the franchise record for most points through consecutive games, breaking Mark Aguirre’s record of 87. 

This was his 17th straight game with at least 25 points - a franchise record and the second-longest streak in the NBA this season.

In the fourth quarter, he scored or assisted on 15 of the team's 27 points as the Trail Blazers only managed 18 in the final period.

In the end, his huge performance was in vain as the Mavericks couldn't cap-off their rally.

"If he had that shot nine more times, I think he'd make it nine in a row," Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said postgame on Doncic's late miss. 

Four other players scored in double figures, led by 18 from Kristaps Porzingis. The duo of Jalen Brunson and Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed a combined 23 off the bench. 

Road ahead

The Trail Blazers will carry their four-game win streak to Oklahoma City on the second night of a back-to-back while the Mavericks have a couple of days to recover before they cap-off their seven-game homestand against the Detroit Pistons.

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Yash Matange

Yash Matange Photo