Game Thread 2023-24 Game #34 - BLAZERS @ MAVERICKS - JANUARY 5, 2024 - FRIDAY - 5:30 PM PST - ROOT

MAVERICKS 139 – TRAIL BLAZERS 103
JANUARY 5, 2024, AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER

• The Dallas Mavericks recorded their 10th 40-point quarter with a 40-point third quarter in tonight’s win against the Portland Trail Blazers. They tie for the most 40-point quarters in the league this season (SAC, IND, BOS).
• With a 36-point victory margin, the Mavericks recorded their second-highest win margin of the season (50 vs. UTA, 12/6/23). They join Philadelphia, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Boston for the only teams to have at least two games this season with a win margin of 36-plus points.

• With a 29-point margin of victory over Portland on Wednesday (1/3/24) and the 36-point margin tonight, the Mavericks have recorded its largest margin of victory over a two-game span against the same opponent in franchise history (65). The 65-point margin of victory over the span of two games is tied for the sixth-largest margin of victory over a two-game span in franchise history.
• With 35 assists against Portland tonight, Dallas recorded its second-highest amount of assists in a game this season (37 vs UTA, 12/6/23). They have five games of 30-or-more assists this season, going 5-0 in such instances.
• Dallas had a .583 FG% tonight, the team’s highest field goal percentage of the season (prev. .557 FG% at GSW, 12/30/23). The team had a higher field goal percentage in just two games last season (.610 at MIA, 4/1/23; .597 vs. DEN, 11/18/22) and one game in 2021-22 (.687 at NOP, 12/1/21).
• Converting 17-of-38 from behind the arc tonight, Dallas recorded its 21st game with 15-or-more 3-pointers, second-most in the NBA this season. Only Boston (25) has more games with 15-plus 3-pointers this season. The Mavericks are 17-4 in games that they have recorded 15-or-more threes this season.

• Kyrie Irving scored 24 points (10-18 FG, 3-7 3FG, 1-1 FT), nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks. Irving’s nine rebounds ty for season-high in rebounds. With nine rebounds in Utah (1/1/23), nine against Portland (1/3/24) and nine tonight, Kyrie has recorded three consecutive games with nine-or-more rebounds for the first time in his career.

• Jaden Hardy recorded 19 points (8-14 FG, 3-7 3FG), nine rebounds, nine assists and one steal. His 19 points ties a season-high (19 at MEM, 12/11/23). His 19-9-9 marks the first 10-5-5 game of his career.

• Hardy’s nine rebounds and nine assists mark career-highs in both categories. Prior to tonight, his career-highs for rebounds and assists were eight and five, respectively.

• Josh Green notched 14 points (7-8 FG), five rebounds, five assists and one steal. Green’s 14-5-5 marks the second 10-5-5 game of his career (23-5-7 vs. MEM, 3/13/23). His 14 points is his third-highest scoring outing this season (18 at GSW, 12/30/23; 15 at LAL, 11/22/23).

• Off the bench, A.J. Lawson scored 14 points (4-8 FG, 1-4 3FG, 5-6 FT), five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

• Scoot Henderson recorded 17 points (7-15 FG, 3-7 3FG), three rebounds, 10 assists and one steal. Henderson recorded his fourth career double-double with 17 points and 10 assists.

• Off the bench, Kris Murray scored 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-3 3FG), four rebounds, one assists, one steal. His 10 points marked a new career-high in scoring in a game.

 

MAVERICKS HEAD COACH JASON KIDD

(On the 36-point win tonight…)

“Good win. A lot of bodies out. Next man mentality. I thought [Jaden] Hardy was great. [Kyrie Irving] got us off to a really good start there, kind of like what happened the last game. I thought [Kyrie] picked up right where he left off. But I thought as a group, everybody played hard. Josh [Green], those starters, [Derrick] Jones [Jr.] didn’t have to play 30-plus minutes today. But again, everyone who participated played at a high level and got us a team win.”


(On the Mavericks bench’s play…)

“Tim [Hardway Jr.] has been Tim coming off the bench, we kept him in his role tonight. But I thought the bench was big. When you look at what [Hardaway] and [Seth] Curry did, what AJ [Lawson], O-Max [Olivier-Maxence Prosper] and [Greg] Brown [III] and Brandon [Willliams]. All those guys who played, again, played the right way and so it showed. Again, a great team win to play like that without Luka [Dončić] and [Dereck Lively II] and the rest of the people who were [out]—Grant [Williams]—there’s a long list. But you get my point about the injuries—but it’s been like that all season. Next man mentality and guys have been ready. I think that’s been a big thing, guys have been ready to play.”


(On the strengths of Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy’s game…)

“I think when he’s off the ball and then he gets on the ball; his ability to score; then his ability to find guys, and he was at a high level this evening. Again, each time he’s taken the floor he’s gotten better.”




MAVERICKS GUARD JADEN HARDY(On his nine-assist game tonight…)

“I feel like when I was out there, just slowing the game down and trying to make the right read when I’m out there. I feel like I can create and get in the paint easily, so just reading the defense and finding my teammates.”


(On playing extended minutes with Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving…)

“It felt good to be out there with ‘Kai’ [Kyrie Irving]. He gives me confidence when I’m out there telling me to go. I feed off of his energy too, so just having him around and being around the young guys, we feed off him and Luka’s [Dončić] energy. I just feel good when I’m out there with him.”


(On stepping up when players are injured…)

“When guys go down, what we say in that locker room is ‘next man up’ mentality. Just sticking to that, being ready whenever my name is called.”


(On his shot creation tonight…)

“Just try to pick my spots and take what the defense was giving me. When I was open, just stepping into that shot with confidence.”


(On what he has seen from his game during times with extended minutes…)

“When I go back and watch the film, just slowing down and watching the game. Just knowing time, score, and when to attack or give my teammates the ball. I feel like I have done a great job of getting better at that.”





MAVERICKS FORWARD JOSH GREEN

(On his thoughts about tonight’s game…)

“Overall, it was a great game. I think we needed that. We knew they were going to come out, especially after the last game, with a lot of energy. Being able to concentrate … It’s hard to back up the game we played last time against them. We just made sure we came out with the right energy, and making sure were ready to go. I think one through 15 we did that, when guys are injured, guys are able to step up.”


(On how he got back into game shape after his injury…)

“I just try to stay in shape even when I’m out. I try to run as much as I can, do as many things that translate to the game. I was definitely exhausted in the first quarter though, I had to call for a sub which I don’t think I have ever done, but I definitely needed that. I like to work out, so I thought I was in pretty good shape coming back.”


(On how it felt seeing the young players getting an opportunity to play more minutes…)

“It’s always good to see, all these guys they work super hard. Seeing somebody like ‘O-Max’ [Olivier-Maxence Prosper], you know he comes in every day super early and works out, and I can say the same for all of them. It’s always really good to see that hard work come into play. And ‘B-Will’ [Brandon Williams], I played at Arizona with him. He was injured the year I was there, but he’s a great guy and I am excited to spend the rest of the year with him.”

 

TRAIL BLAZERS HEAD COACH CHAUNCEY BILLUPS

(On tonight’s game…)

“Just disappointing all the way around. It was just disappointing. I never, well I can’t say never, but rarely this year have I sat up here and just been disappointed in our effort. You know our effort was poor. It was lousy all game. Starters got us off to a bad start with that it was just tough. It was just tough. So, really just disappointed to be honest with you with the effort.”


(On why having a good practice yesterday didn’t translate to tonight’s game…)

“I don’t know why that happened. It’s kind of strange. It’s kind of weird to be honest with you because we did have a pretty spirited good practice yesterday. You know we’ve had many, many games where we just don’t make shots or we turn it over or this or that, but it’s not really an effort thing you know. I knew that they would play so much faster today without Luka [Dončić] because when he doesn’t play, they play fast. They just run and gun and play fast, but we talked about this. You know we were prepared for it, and it was like it threw us off a little bit. No matter how most teams play it never kills our fight and our spirit. That’s the disappointing part. Not that we lost or got blown out, of course that sucks, but just the lack of resistance is always going to be my issue.”


(On if the team has hit a wall…)

“I think the lack of continuity has been hurtful to us. We lose so many players at times, but then when we get guys back it throws rhythms off, and I just don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it, but we leave Phoenix and obviously we lost that game, but man we fought so hard. That game we literally couldn’t make shots, but man we fought hard as heck and these last two, the efforts have been a little disappointing. So, I can’t really put my finger on it, but we’ll figure it out.”




TRAIL BLAZERS GUARD ANFERNEE SIMONS

(On why the good practice the Trail Blazers had yesterday didn’t carry over to tonight…)

“I don’t think I have the answer for you. It is just tough right now.”



(On if the Trail Blazers have hit a wall right now…)

“It is a lot of things that could probably be in play. We need to man up and get through it.”



(On how he was feeling during the game tonight…)

“I was all right. I was just trying to read the game. I was just trying to make the best play possible for the team.”




TRAIL BLAZERS GUARD SCOOT HENDERSON

(On the game...)
“I think we didn’t start like we wanted to, but I think that just happens. The way that we can pick it up is - our effort, we need to go out there like we care. And we need to get mad when other team scores. It is as simple as that. I am going to try to get everybody on the same page.”

(On how the Mavericks are different without Mavericks guard Luka Dončić…)
“I don’t think they (Mavericks) are a lot better. I think the ball is flying. They get up the floor really fast and the kick ahead (pass) is always there. They’ve got fast players that can shoot, so I think with Luka [Dončić], he just takes his time. Even when he is in, they are a fast team and when he is out, they are even faster.”

(On what allows you to push things aside to bounce back...)
“Try to continue to be me. Try to get everyone else involved. Let everyone touch the rock, whether it is just a kick up pass, or a pass for no reason, sometimes to just make sure you feel it (the ball).”

(On keeping other players involved if having a bad game...)
“I think the basketball gods just come back around, if you play the game right."

(On if having a coach who has struggled early in his career helps with his development...)
“The early struggles I had early in the season - nobody really cares. It doesn’t matter. You go back to the gym and continue to do fine tuning.”

(On what the team needs to get back on the right track...)
“We just need to continue to play fast. I think that is one thing where I can contribute just trying to get the ball up quick. Defensively, we need to make sure we lock in on the person we want to blitz. Everybody needs to be on the same page. Everybody talks about it; we just need to stick together.”

 

Ouch!