Kyrie Irving Leads Luka-Less Mavs to Blowout Win Over Trail Blazers: 'Next Man Mentality'

Kyrie Irving shouldered the load for the Mavs to lead an undermanned unit without Luka Doncic for a second win over the Trail Blazers in three days.

DALLAS — During the Dallas Mavericks' 139-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, there was no shortage of essential players sidelined for both teams. With Kyrie Irving leading the charge, the Mavs pulled away by a massive margin in the third quarter, improving to 21-15 on the season. Portland dropped to 9-25 overall. 

“Good win. A lot of bodies out. Next man mentality," Mavs coach Kidd said. " 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.”

Luka Doncic headlined the notable players who could not play as he deals with right ankle soreness. The Mavs relied on Kyrie Irving to set the tone, with other inactive players being Dereck Lively II, Dante Exum, Grant Williams, Maxi Kleber, Richaun Holmes, and Markieff Morris. 

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With Irving as the lone superstar available, the Mavs continued to start Derrick Jones Jr. on the wing while having Jaden Hardy, Josh Green, and Dwight Powell filling in for injured players. It was a priority to keep Tim Hardaway Jr. in his regular sixth-man role, to provide a deeper overall attack. 

“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," Green said. "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.”

With 12 points in the opening quarter, Irving was aggressive early, something he emphasized since his first game back from injury. With a fast pace getting up and down, Irving took advantage of transition chances to attack but also made his impact felt in isolation situations, getting to open spots for pull-ups, often with creative moves. He got where he wanted on the floor and scored often. Dallas put up 38 points in the first quarter to set the tone, leading by a 12-point margin. 

"[Kyrie Irving] got us off to a really good start there, kind of like what happened the last game," Kidd said. "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.”

The Mavs trusted their bench group to sustain the lead without Irving on the floor for much of the second quarter. There was a stretch when Portland rallied back to make it a four-point game (41-37 ) after Duop Reach scored in the paint with 8:41 left in the first half — the closest Portland would come for the rest of the night.

Plenty of complementary players, including Hardy, Green, and Curry, stepped up for the Mavs throughout the first half. The highlight involved Hardy connecting with Green on a dart of an inbound pass to beat the game clock, setting up a contested buzzer-beater from Green, which was ruled a two-point field goal. Dallas led 62-53 at the break as a result. 

“Just disappointing all the way around. It was just disappointing," Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. "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.” 

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The Mavs continued to get out in transition and attack, playing with flow in the half-court. Their execution was highlighted by Green throwing down an emphatic tomahawk dunk in transition, pushing the Mavs' lead to a 24-point margin with 6:34 left in the third quarter, prompting Portland to call a timeout. Dallas outscored Portland 20-5 so far in that period. 

“They get up the floor really fast, and the kick ahead (pass) is always there," Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson said. "They’ve got fast players that can shoot, so I think with Luka, he just takes his time. Even when he is in, they are a fast team, and when he is out, they are even faster.”

The momentum was entirely in the Mavs' favor throughout the third quarter. While Irving was on the floor, the Mavs outscored the Blazers by a staggering 40-16 margin in the third quarter, setting up a 102-69 lead entering the final period. 

Irving did not need to play any minutes in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game, finishing with 24 points, nine rebounds, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in 29 minutes. He had an efficient overall outing, shooting 10-18 from the floor, 3-7 from the perimeter, and 1-1 on free throws, with one turnover. 

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

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A few of the Mavs' young players stepped up in a major way. Hardy nearly recorded his first triple-double, finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Green added 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Both players could take on a larger responsibility in a needed time.

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

Jones provided 12 points, three rebounds, and three steals as the only regular starter available. Hardaway, as the sixth man, chipped in 19 points and four assists, with A.J. Lawson being another double-figure scorer off the bench with 14 points while adding five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. 

The Mavs will continue their seven-game homsetand on Sunday when taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves, continuing their longest consecutive stretch at American Airlines Center during the season.