Dante Exum 'Next Man Up' in Dallas Mavs' Win vs. Portland Trail Blazers After Kyrie Irving Injury

The Mavs received a strong performance from Dante Exum against the Trail Blazers as he continues to showcase his value as a connective presence.

PORTLAND — The Dallas Mavericks entered Friday's 125-112 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers deploying Dante Exum in the starting lineup next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, providing a third ball handler without sacrificing perimeter size. With Grant Williams and Josh Green sidelined, Exum's presence would be required.

Exum scored a season-high 23 points while adding six rebounds and seven assists in 33 minutes. He committed only one turnover and shot 9-15 from the floor, with a pair of makes from beyond the arc. After Kyrie Irving suffered a right foot injury in the second quarter and was later ruled out, Exum's presence proved vital.

“One of the biggest things with our team is our next-man-up mentality,” Exum said. “You see that right now with me as an example.

“We have (a lot of players) down. And the guys have been able to step up. Hopefully, he (Irving) is not out for too long, but we have a deep roster that’s willing and ready to step up.”

Exum served as a needed threat to generate rim pressure and achieved this in various ways, showcasing his versatility between creating as an initiator, being a connective presence off-ball or as a screener, and using his bigger frame in ways such as posting up a smaller guard — all while continuing to push the pace throughout the game.

"I went over to Europe and I was looked at more offensively, but I think, my outlook here is being able to play off Luka, be able to play off guys and just be smart on the offensive end," Exum said. "Tonight, I think I did that well and was able to create for myself, you know, getting to getting into lane is what I do and when they're all looking at Luka, I can just get past my guys."

Between often picking up full-court against top assignments on defense or serving as an essential release valve by attacking off the catch after receiving Doncic's pass to counter the Blazers' blitzing in pick-and-roll, Exum made a significant impact when it was needed most without Irving available to do it.

“He was big,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said of Exum. “To start and then to have to play both ends, I thought he did a great job offensively and defensively. It’s not easy guarding Simons. But just playing off Luka and Kai, and then to lose Kai, I thought Dante did a really good job attacking on the double teams and getting to the rim."

Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum defends the rim against the Portland Trail Blazers / Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

There was a particular play that Exum commanded praise from Kidd for making, resulting from slipping a ball screen and making a play on the catch to find Derrick Jones Jr. wide open for a made 3-pointer in a pivotal moment. 

"I thought one of the big plays was down the stretch when Luka found him on the roll, and he throws out to Derrick Jones for the three," Kidd said of Exum. "I thought that was a really nice play.”

A 6-foot-6 guard with a big frame like Exum, who has a combination of passing skill, size, and aggression in attacking the paint, offers the Mavs a variety of valuable options. Dallas can move Doncic around in the half-court due to a more extreme version of these attributes, but having a complementary talent like Exum adds intriguing elements to elevate the offense. 

"It helps out tremendously just because it's another ball handler out there at true point guard," Mavs sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. said of Exum. "The decision-making, he gets in the paint, creates for others, good finisher around the paint, as you all saw today."

The rest of the Mavs' unit appreciates how Exum provides a high degree of effort on both ends to help the team succeed. He was picking up full-court and hustling to make plays to the point there was a moment he requested to be subbed out.

"What he did great for us was to set the tone defensively," Hardaway said of Exum. "He was picking up full-court, asking us for a sub. It shows that he's going hard on both ends of the floor, and we appreciate that. That definitely helped us and propelled us to the victory."

The Blazers rallied back from a double-figure deficit to trailing by just one point (99-98) with 9:58 remaining in regulation as a result of a floater by Anfernee Simons. Doncic set the tone the rest of the way, with Exum making plenty of impactful plays on both ends to provide a needed boost to close it out.

“It’s kind of hard, especially with the opposing team seeing that it gives them some life a little bit,” Hardaway said. “But it’s part of the game. I think we took their best punch when they cut the lead to two or something like that.

“I’m happy that we still had (No.) 77 on our side and weather the storm with his decision-making and Dante Exum having an incredible game. It was a team effort.”

Going forward, Exum remains confident in his 3-point shooting despite his early-season struggles in that department. He made both of his attempts against the Blazers, but is shooting 29.2 percent on the season. He understands the next step is to remain confident in his shot and take a higher volume when available. 

"Just kind of where I've been at with my shot and everything, just to hit those two threes and feel confident [was good]," Exum said. "Everyone's been saying, 'Keep shooting, keep shooting.' There were a couple I should've shot and they were telling me to shoot it. 

"It's been something I've been working on for, you know, ever since last game, and I'll continue to keep working on it so I can, you know, be that offensive threat from the three. 

The more the Mavs deal with injuries and continue to evaluate the personnel that steps up and handles greater roles, the clearer Exum's value becomes. Whether he's playing next to Doncic and Irving, or filling in for one of them, Exum is proving capable of providing needed versatility on both ends in different capacities.