Dallas Beats Portland in OT as Gafford Leads Strong Finish

The Dallas Mavericks finally ended their three-game losing streak with a hard-fought 138-133 overtime win against the Portland Trail Blazers. The victory also helped Dallas avoid a winless homestand, making this match extremely important for the team. The game was full of fast scoring, tough defense, and many momentum changes until Dallas took control in the final minutes of overtime.

Daniel Gafford became the biggest difference maker for Dallas. After being limited this season because of an ankle injury, he delivered his best performance with a season-high 20 points and strong play on both offense and defense. His influence grew even more in overtime when the score was extremely close. His two free throws with 1:39 left gave Dallas the lead permanently and started a 6-0 run that helped secure the win. One of the key moments came when Gafford blocked Shaedon Sharpe’s shot at the rim and then immediately scored a powerful basket on the other end. This gave Dallas a five-point lead and shifted the momentum sharply in their favor.

P.J. Washington added one of the most exciting plays of the night. After a missed three-pointer by Sharpe, Cooper Flagg made a perfect outlet pass during a fast break, and Washington finished it with a strong dunk. Washington ended the game with 21 points and played confidently throughout the match.

For Portland, Shaedon Sharpe delivered one of his top performances of the season. He scored 36 points and handed out six assists. But even with his excellent scoring, he struggled to make baskets in the final minute and a half of overtime, which made Portland’s comeback attempt difficult. Sharpe was forced to take on more responsibility because Deni Avdija, Portland’s leading scorer this season, fouled out. Before exiting, Avdija had a strong game with 29 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

Dallas showed great balance in scoring, which was one of the main reasons they won the match. Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington scored 21 points each, Brandon Williams added 15, and Max Christie scored 14. All five starters reached double figures. The effort from the bench was also strong, with Klay Thompson scoring 19 points, D’Angelo Russell adding 12, and Naji Marshall scoring nine. This support allowed Dallas to stay consistent even when their starters rested.

Portland relied heavily on their starting players. Jerami Grant scored 26 points, Donovan Clingan added 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Toumani Camara contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds. But their bench scored only 15 points in total. The absence of Jrue Holiday, who was ruled out shortly before the game due to a sore right calf, also affected their defense and overall rhythm.

The defeat ended Portland’s five-game road trip on a disappointing note. They finished with only one win and suffered back-to-back losses to close the trip. Meanwhile, the win brought much-needed confidence to the Mavericks. After losing three straight games, Dallas needed a strong performance, and this overtime victory gave them energy and belief as they move forward in the season.