The Dallas Mavericks put up a strong fight, but the Portland Trail Blazers held them off for a chippy, exhausting 117-108 win Saturday night. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum led the Blazers, with support from Evan Turner. Here are a few essentials from tonight’s game.
- Never a doubt! Just kidding, it’s the Blazers. Portland pulled ahead early, leaving Dallas in the dust by the second quarter. Lacking any serious weapons, the Mavs fell behind by 20, and the game seemed over. But of course, it’s the Blazers. A third-quarter Mavs run cut the lead all the way down to 5... then Portland promptly went on a run. Then it was over! Ok, the Mavs cut it to 7 again. Eventually, it really was over.
- Wow, Dame, wow. Making his final pitch for an All-Star Reserve bid, Lillard hit his first 9 shots, scoring 27 points before a Dallas block stopped his streak. He finished with 31.
- Don’t get defensive. An old bugaboo has started to reappear in January, as Portland’s defensive issues cropped up repeatedly. The Mavs’ strong offensive execution poked holes for easy buckets, both inside and out. That led to the multiple comebacks, despite Dallas’ limitations.
- Salah Mejri needs to learn how to flop. In a contentious game where both teams took some cheap shots, Mejri took the cake. Ok Salah, feel what body part is touched, then flop based on the actual contact. Seriously, you’ve got to see this.
Mejri is the king of flopping. THE. KING. #ripcity pic.twitter.com/RXZviFHcdn
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 21, 2018
Highlights:
D I S T A N C E pic.twitter.com/w3tEd8a3Zr
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 21, 2018
*shouts*
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 21, 2018
"THE MONEY IS IN THE MIDRANGE." pic.twitter.com/YR85W9WD6n
SHABAZZ IS THE MAN
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 21, 2018
SHABAZZ IS THE MAN
SHABAZZ pic.twitter.com/KbIuMMX2m9
The friendly @ModaCenter bounce. pic.twitter.com/lojYSnyIE7
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 21, 2018
SOMEONE CALL BENSON AND STABLER...
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 21, 2018
@CJMCCOLLUM IS AT IT AGAIN pic.twitter.com/fsMMawEW50
IT'S CALLED "@DAME_LILLARD RANGE"
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 21, 2018
Learn it.
Know it.
Live it. pic.twitter.com/cDBd3Jkw3p
What’s Next:
A date with the Nuggets in Denver Monday night.