Daniel Gafford’s contributions on each ends of the ground proved essential down the stretch, because the Dallas Mavericks snapped a three-game dropping skid and averted a winless homestand with their 138-133 time beyond regulation defeat of the Portland Path Blazers on Sunday.
Gafford, restricted to date in 2025-26 by an ankle harm, delivered a season-high 20 factors, together with 4 within the last seconds of the additional interval for Dallas.
His free throws with 1:39 remaining gave the Mavericks the lead for good and ignited a 6-0 mini-run that successfully put the sport away. Throughout one sequence, Gafford rejected Shaedon Sharpe on the rim, then completed on the different finish on a bodily basket within the paint to present Dallas a five-point benefit.
Gafford’s block and bucket adopted P.J. Washington’s thunderous dunk on a leakout, arrange from Cooper Flagg’s outlet help off a missed Sharpe 3-pointer.
Sharpe’s lack of ability to attain within the last minute and a half got here at an inopportune time on an in any other case excellent night time for the Portland guard. He scored a season-high 36 factors, only one shy of matching his profession finest, and dished six assists.
Sharpe was left shouldering the load after Deni Avdija, the Blazers’ season-long main scorer, fouled out. Avdija completed with 29 factors, seven assists and 6 rebounds.
Flagg and Washington led the Mavericks with 21 factors apiece. Brandon Williams and Max Christie added 15 and 14 factors, respectively.
Portland’s scoring got here virtually completely from its beginning 5, with Jerami Grant including 26 factors, Donovan Clingan scoring 16 and Toumani Camara chipping in 11. Clingan and Camara each recorded double-doubles with 11 and 10 rebounds.
However whereas the Portland bench totaled simply 15 factors, Dallas reserves Klay Thompson, D’Angelo Russell and Naji Marshall scored 19, 12 and 9 factors to help all 5 Mavericks starters scoring in double figures.
With the loss, Portland closes its five-game street swing at 1-4 with bookending back-to-back losses. The Blazers performed Sunday with out Jrue Vacation, who was a late scratch from the lineup with a sore proper calf.
–Subject Stage Media