Final: Mavs 108, Trail Blazers 104
Box Score | Highlights
Behind the Box Score
The Mavericks scored a season-high 35 points in the first quarter, at a 1.458 points per possession clip. The Dallas offense was fueled by blistering 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. The 13-point lead at the end of the first frame was the team’s largest since Feb. 28, 2016. Heading into this one, Dallas had won 11 of its last 12 games overall when leading by at least that many points after the opening quarter.
Dallas is now 16-6 this season when leading after three quarters, per Basketball-Reference, including winning nine of 10 in such instances. The young Mavs are slowly learning how to close games.
The Mavs are on a season-long four-game winning streak, the club’s longest since winning six consecutive from March 28 to April 8 toward the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
Dirk Nowitzki’s 3-pointer with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter moved him past Kevin Garnett for 11th place on the all-time field goals made list. He needs eight more to move past Celtics legend John Havlicek for 10th.
Notebook
This game was eerily similar to the Mavs’ win in Portland on Dec. 21, when Dallas surged out to a 24-point lead by halftime before holding on for dear life to win by one point, 96-95. I would say too similar, if you’d ask the Mavericks, but a win’s a win, right? Before this one, nine of the Mavs’ last 12 visits to Portland were decided by six points or less. These teams, for whatever reason, just always tend to play close, dramatic games at the Moda Center. It’s uncanny. But Dallas
It’s Yogi season. Or Ferrell Fever. Or Yogimania. Whatever you want to call it, that’s what it is. The Mavs rookie was absolutely sensational once again tonight. At this point, we’ve got to begin wondering who, if anyone, as had a better 10-day performance than Ferrell, who’s a perfect 4-0 as a starter for Dallas since joining the team last weekend. Tonight he finished with 32 points and drained nine 3s, tied for second-most in a game in franchise history. He’s just the 14th Maverick ever to score 30 in a game before turning 24. He even mixed in a little MJ-esque shrug in the first half while he was completely on fire. Obviously the hope is that he can somehow maintain the pace he’s been on, or at least come close to it, for the rest of his 10-day. At that point, it will be decision time both for himself and for the Mavericks. Regardless, what a run this guy’s had. Truly unbelievable.
Wesley Matthews had his second 20-point game in his last three appearances, a good sign after missing two games due to injury just before the Mavs’ winning streak began. Matthews came into this one averaging 18.7 points per contest in games in Portland since joining the Mavericks, and tonight he topped that total, finishing with 27 points, including two huge free throws late in the fourth quarter to put the Mavs up three. He clearly takes his returns to his former home city very seriously. Matthews has looked much more aggressive from 2-point range recently, especially in the post any time he has a size and strength advantage against guards who switched on to him. Keep in mind he’s played a lot of small forward lately since the Mavs made their lineup switch, so he hasn’t always had the benefit of being a couple inches or pounds bigger than his counterpart. Tonight, however, whenever the Blazers would switch either Damian Lillard or C.J. McCollum onto him, he went to work to create a shot.
Seth Curry spent virtually the entire first half in foul trouble, but he awoke in the second, at one point scoring eight straight points bridging the third and fourth quarters. Curry looks more under control every game, now appearing to move at his own speed through traffic in ways most guards simply aren’t able to do. The Mavs were shorthanded at guard tonight, with Devin Harris joining Deron Williams and J.J. Barea on the inactive list. Dallas needed everything it could get from both Curry and Ferrell, the only active point guards. Curry finished with 19 points.
What’s Next
The Mavs (20-30) play the Denver Nuggets (22-27) on Monday at the Pepsi Center at 8 p.m. Central.
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