The Portland Trail Blazers overcame a scorching 46-point effort by Kyrie Irving to secure a 126-122 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night. Despite Irving’s dominance, the Blazers held firm, earning their second consecutive win of the season.

Shaedon Sharpe led Portland with 23 points, while Anfernee Simons added 22. Deandre Ayton contributed a double-double with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks, while Deni Avdija matched Ayton’s scoring and chipped in five rebounds and five assists. Scoot Henderson also impressed off the bench, tallying 19 points, six assists, and a career-high five steals.

Irving’s brilliance kept Dallas competitive, as he poured in 20 of his points in the fourth quarter in a valiant comeback attempt. However, his efforts were not enough to overcome the Mavericks’ shorthanded roster. Luka Doncic, Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall, and P.J. Washington were unavailable due to injuries and suspensions, leaving Irving as the team’s primary offensive weapon.

Spencer Dinwiddie and Daniel Gafford provided support with 17 and 15 points, respectively, but no other Dallas player reached 20 points. The Mavericks struggled to keep up in the paint, where Portland outscored them 58-38 and won the rebounding battle 50-40.

For Dallas, Quentin Grimes contributed 15 points off the bench, while Jaden Hardy chipped in 11. Despite the secondary scoring, Irving’s individual brilliance couldn’t carry the Mavericks over the finish line.

The Trail Blazers’ win marks just their second winning streak of the season, improving their record to 11-20. Meanwhile, Dallas fell to 20-12 but remains competitive in the Western Conference standings.

Portland’s efficient shooting played a pivotal role in the victory, as they connected on 50% of their shots from the field and 42.3% from beyond the arc. Simons and Sharpe combined for six of the team’s 11 three-pointers, providing key scoring bursts throughout the game.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, shot 48.3% from the floor and 39.5% from deep but struggled to capitalize on offensive rebounds, finishing with just 10 second-chance points compared to Portland’s 14.