The last time Luka Doncic returned from an injury was against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The result was a 36-point performance that led to a 36-point blowout win for the Dallas Mavericks. Doncic was welcomed back to the lineup Monday against the Blazers after a week off to recover from a left heel contusion.
Doncic’s ability to absorb contact in the first half set the stage for another lopsided victory as the Mavericks cruised to a 132-108 win over the struggling Blazers.
Doncic converted on three shots in the first half as he was fouled. He missed his first three shots until banking in a one-handed midrange shot as he was fouled by Toumani Camara. The Mavericks star finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. He was one of five players to score double figures for the Mavericks.
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“He’s strong,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “He knows how to use his body to position himself for those and-ones. He knows the space that he has to get to and he does it at a very high level…For him being out, getting to that free throw line was important to get that rhythm.”
The Mavericks had the benefit of getting to the free throw line early and often. They finished with 34 free throw attempts, while making 24 of them. Daniel Gafford was responsible for 14 of those attempts as he constantly found a way to draw Blazers defenders into initiating contact.
Gafford shined off the bench for the Mavericks with a season-high 23 points and five rebounds, while converting on all seven of his field goal attempts. The 6-foot-10 big man displayed on multiple occasions the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim through contact.
Gafford said he couldn’t remember when he had as many attempts from the stripe, but he also accomplished the feat during his sophomore season at Arkansas. Gafford scored 10 of his point total in the third quarter as he took advantage of Blazers rookie center Donovan Clingan, which also included three and-one finishes.
“I feel like I’m on top of the world,” Gafford said of his ability to finish through contact. “It’s like I’m a kid in the candy store, especially when I can get an opportunity to score and when I get an and-one, it gives me an opportunity to just yell. I get a bunch of negative energy out. I get the bad air out.”
Kyrie Irving added 20 points and three rebounds. P.J. Washington had 12 points and four rebounds.
The Blazers were led by Deni Avdija, who totaled 19 points and six rebounds with three assists. Deandre Ayton added 16 points and nine rebounds. Shaedon Sharpe scored 13 points, while the Mavericks limited Anfernee Simons to just 10 points and five assists.
History was on the line at American Airlines Center as Klay Thompson entered the game needing six 3-pointers to surpass Reggie Miller (2,560) for fifth on the NBA’s all-time career 3-pointers list. He scored 13 points, but fell short with only three triples on the night.
He knocked down his first 3-pointer of the game, but missed the next three until he drilled his second and final 3 of the game in the second quarter. After connecting on his third triple of the night, he raised his arms into the air. He made three of his eight attempts, finishing two shy of tying Miller’s record.
The Mavericks will practice on the morning of Christmas Eve before their Christmas Day showdown against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
It’ll likely be a night when Thompson eclipses Miller’s record and cements himself among an elite class of shooters that includes Stephen Curry, James Harden, Ray Allen and Damian Lillard.
“He’s shooting the ball extremely well so we believe he can get that done in the next game,” Kidd said.
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