The Dallas Mavericks closed out the 2025 calendar year with a familiar script — a deep hole, a determined comeback, and multiple chances to steal a win late that ultimately slipped away.
Despite erasing a 17-point deficit and holding the lead inside the final 90 seconds, the Dallas Mavericks fell 125-122 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night at Moda Center. The loss dropped Dallas to 12-22 overall, 3-13 on the road, and 4-12 in games played without Anthony Davis, who was downgraded to out before tipoff with right adductor soreness.
Portland avoided blowing a 17-point lead and survived after Dallas missed three three-pointers over its final three possessions, including a potential game-tying attempt at the buzzer.
Dallas again played without Davis, and the Mavericks’ record without him slipped to 4-12. Danté Exum, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II remain out for the season, further thinning Dallas’ margin for error in close games.
Portland’s circumstances were just as notable, as the Trail Blazers were severely shorthanded and playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Portland was without Jerami Grant (left Achilles tendinitis), Scoot Henderson (left hamstring tear), Jrue Holiday (right calf strain), Damian Lillard (left Achilles tendon), Matisse Thybulle (left thumb ligament tear), Blake Wesley (right foot fracture), and Kris Murray (right quad contusion), yet still managed to close out the win behind timely shot-making and late execution.
Early Hole Leaves Dallas Mavericks Chasing Again
The Mavericks spent much of the night playing uphill. Portland dictated the early tempo, scoring 42 points in the first quarter and repeatedly extending possessions with offensive rebounds. The Trail Blazers pushed their lead to 17 points multiple times in the second quarter and carried a 75-63 advantage into halftime.
Deni Avdija controlled the game early, attacking downhill and creating offense for others. He finished with 27 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, falling just short of a triple-double. Dallas struggled to contain penetration and second-chance opportunities, allowing Portland to stay in control despite later shooting regression.
For the second straight game, Cooper Flagg endured a slow start. He went scoreless in the first quarter, committing three turnovers and picking up two fouls in his opening shift, while missing all three of his shot attempts.
Flagg settled in as the game progressed, finishing with 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and drew multiple late double-teams that created open looks for teammates during Dallas’ fourth-quarter push. However, he finished the night shooting 6-of-20 overall with five turnovers.
Dallas also received efficient interior production despite the absence of Davis. Daniel Gafford finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 10 rebounds, repeatedly converting around the rim and providing vertical spacing as Dallas chipped away at the deficit.
P.J. Washington added eight points and five rebounds while taking on a heavy defensive workload across multiple frontcourt matchups, including extended stretches against Avdija and Portland’s bigs as the Mavericks worked to stabilize their rotations.
Third-Quarter Surge Brings Dallas Mavericks Back
Portland appeared on the verge of pulling away late in the third quarter, leading 95-84 with 1:30 remaining. Instead, Dallas delivered its most cohesive stretch of the night, closing the period on a 9-2 run.
That push was capped by Klay Thompson’s running three-pointer with 0.7 seconds left, trimming the deficit to 97-93 and injecting momentum into a Mavericks group that had spent most of the night chasing.
Thompson carried that rhythm into the fourth quarter, tying the game at 99 with a three-pointer at the 9:35 mark and setting the stage for a grind-it-out finish.
Fourth Quarter Brings Momentum Swings
The final quarter featured eight lead changes as neither team could create separation. Max Christie continued his aggressive night, drilling a three-pointer with 6:56 remaining to give Dallas its first lead of the second half at 106-105.
Christie finished with a team-high 25 points, going 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and consistently punishing late closeouts.
“It’s tough. You never wanna lose,” Christie said. “But I’m proud of our fight. There’s stuff to be encouraged about. We didn’t go away. Great third and fourth quarters. Three losses on the road trip, but we ended on a slightly positive note.”
Dallas briefly stretched its advantage to four before Portland responded. Avdija scored at the rim, and Caleb Love buried a three to swing the score back in Portland’s favor, 118-117, with 2:30 remaining.
Christie answered again, knocking down a deep three with 1:09 left to give Dallas a 122-121 edge — the Mavericks’ final basket of the night.
Missed Threes Decide The Final Minute
Execution tilted Portland’s way down the stretch. Love calmly sank two free throws with 53.2 seconds remaining to reclaim the lead.
Dallas then came up empty on its final three possessions, missing three-point attempts on each. Two of those looks belonged to Naji Marshall, including a wide-open attempt created when Flagg drew a double-team and kicked the ball out at the top of the key.
After Shaedon Sharpe converted two free throws with three seconds remaining, Dallas advanced the ball with one last chance. Thompson used a pump fake to create space, but his three-point attempt to force overtime came up short.
“I think it’s a lesson for all of us,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “Close games, you got to go through it and be able to execute late game. On the defensive end, we just fouled too much. They went to the line. On the offensive end, we got great looks that just didn’t go down for us.”
Jason Kidd Backs Late Decisions, Questions Officiating
Kidd emphasized that Dallas generated the exact shots it wanted late, even if the outcome did not follow.
“It was perfect,” Kidd said of the late kick-out to Marshall. “Wide-open shot. Coop made the right play, drove it. They collapsed. Nai’s wide open. Didn’t make it.”
Kidd also addressed a late overturned call involving Brandon Williams, expressing frustration with the explanation from officials.
“They explained that it was their interpretation,” Kidd said. “It’s up to them to make the decision on whose ball it is. We thought we had the ball, and they turned that into a jump ball. The rule is messed up. They gotta look at cleaning that up.”
Brandon Williams, Max Christie Power The Comeback
Williams, playing in the city where his NBA career began, delivered one of Dallas’ most impactful performances. He finished with 22 points and four assists, consistently attacking downhill and helping fuel the rally.
“He was good,” Kidd said. “He was good in the second half, good down the stretch. Had good looks. Put us in a position to win the game.”
“It’s cool for confidence, but ultimately you wanna get the win,” Williams said. “Going 0-2 before this game on the road trip didn’t feel too good. We wanted to make a statement and not leave without a win. That was the mindset.”
“All the time,” Williams added of the late looks. “We work on those every day. Basketball is a game of makes and misses. It’s gonna happen.”
Christie echoed that sentiment.
“No,” he said when asked if it feels like bad luck. “Klay had a great look. Naji had a great look. We’re putting ourselves in position to win. Ten times out of ten, we’ll take those shots.”
Another Close Loss Ends A Difficult Year
Dallas shot efficiently overall and won the points-in-the-paint battle, but Portland’s 17 offensive rebounds, timely free throws, three-point differential, and late composure proved decisive. Avdija’s control of the game, Love’s shooting burst, and Sharpe’s calm at the line tilted the result. The Mavericks played a league-high 26th clutch game and fell to 10-16 in those situations, while also dropping to 4-14 without Davis.
“He made shots,” Kidd said of Love. “It seems like right now, everybody’s making threes on us.”
The Mavericks return home Thursday to host Philadelphia, turning the page to 2026 after closing a bruising year with another narrow loss — one that again highlighted both their fight and the razor-thin margin separating progress from frustration.
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