Some role players for Mavs have taken on different roles

Given the injuries to their superstar players, it’s no wonder the Dallas Mavericks’ role players have often had to step outside the box and take on different roles.

“When you look at (forward) P. J. (Washington), I think he said it,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Give this group some time. This is a new group.

“We’re learning each other. We’re asking guys to change their role — to make a pivot — and guys have been in a positive state.”

The Mavs were certainly in a positive state Tuesday when they bashed the highly-regarded Los Angeles Lakers, winning, 118-97, to snap a five-game losing streak. It was a much-needed victory for the Mavs, which they hope will carry over to Thursday’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Kidd said his team’s energy was great during the game against the Lakers. And that energy was very critical for the Mavs winning a game not many thought they could win, especially since they were playing without guards Luka Dončić (left calf strain) and Kyrie Irving (lumbar back sprain), and also playing without center Daniel Gafford (left ankle sprain).

However, the Mavs have proven that no matter who they put on the floor, their chances of coming out on top is just as good as the opposing team’s chances.

The play of guard Quentin Grimes off the bench was pivotal in helping keep the Mavs together against the Lakers. Grimes scored a game-high 23 points, grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, distributed six assists and was 6-of-11 from beyond the three-point arc.

Grimes knows without the Mavs’ top two scorers in Dončić and Irving on the court, somebody has to step up and produce some additional scoring.

“It’s just more opportunities for everybody on the team to go out there and prove what they can do on a daily basis,” Grimes said. “We’re just coming together as a unit and just doing it collectively.”

And about those nine rebounds, Grimes all but admit he could hear the voice of University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson ringing in his ears. Grimes played for Sampson at UH from 2019-21.

“Coach Sampson was on me (about rebounding) in college, so I kind of give him full credit for that for sure,” Grimes said. “Knowing that we had Gafford out, somebody’s got to come back and rebound.”

Since this is Grimes’ first season with the Mavs after joining Dallas in last summer’s trade with Detroit which sent Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Pistons, Kidd said: “We’re relying on him heavily to be able to be patient (and) to understand the new system. He’s shooting the ball, he’s driving the ball, and then defensively (he’s) been able to guard.

“One of the things – I don’t think we talk enough about it – (that’s good) is his ability to come back and help us rebound as a guard. He’s playing at a high level right now and we need that, especially with the couple of guys that are out.”

Here are some other nuggets surrounding Thursday’s game between the Mavs and Trail Blazers.

*The Mavs are in the midst of a four-game home stand. They won the opening game of this home stand on Tuesday when they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 118-97. After the game against Portland, the Mavs will finish this home stand with a pair of games against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday and Tuesday before they play in New Orleans on Wednesday.

*After winning, 119-100, in New Orleans on Wednesday, Portland will square off against the Mavs on a second night of a back-to-back. Following the game against Dallas, the Trail Blazers will start a five-game home stand on Saturday against the Miami Heat. Portland is 2-3 on the second leg of a back-to-back this season.

*The Mavs will again be without guards Luka Dončić (left calf strain), Kyrie Irving (lumbar back sprain) and Dante Exum (right wrist surgery) on Thursday. Meanwhile, center Daniel Gafford is listed as questionable for the game against Portland after he suffered a left ankle sprain during Monday’s contest in Memphis.

*For Portland, Deni Avdija led his team in the win over New Orleans with 26 points. Also for the Blazers in that game, Shaedon Sharpe scored 21 points, and Anfernee Simons finished with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists. During the Mavs’ 137-131 triumph over Portland on Dec. 1, Simons – he averages a team-high 18.6 ppg — scored 24 of his 27 points in the third quarter, but fouled out in the fourth quarter.

*Anybody thinking the Mavs have seen a lot of the Blazers lately, they’re absolutely correct. Thursday will be the third time in 18 days that the Mavs have played the Blazers, and the fourth time in 40 days. The Mavs beat the Blazers, 137-131, in Portland on Dec. 1. The Mavs also defeated the Blazers, 132-108, in Dallas on Dec. 23. But the Mavs lost to the Blazers, 126-122, in Porland on Dec. 28.

*The Blazers have had some difficulties trying to win games this season. They lost eight of nine games from Dec. 1-23, but since then they’ve won four of their last seven games. The four wins came at home against Utah (122-120 on Dec. 26) and Dallas (126-122 on Dec. 28), and on the road against Milwaukee (105-102 this past Saturday) and at New Orleans (119-100 on Wednesday).

*The Mavs were certified board crashers in the game against the Lakers as they had five players collect at least five rebounds. That includes Quentin Grimes (nine), P. J. Washington (eight), Dereck Lively II (six), Spencer Dinwiddie (six) and Naji Marshall (five). Dallas won the overall board battle against the Lakers, 44-33.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (13-23) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (21-16)

When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday (game time moved up one hour earlier due to inclement weather)

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: WFAA-8, KFAA-29, MavsTV Stream

Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @DwainPrice