Key Takeaways:
- Deni Avdija narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 27 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds
- Caleb Love scored 24 points off the bench, including six three-pointers and decisive free throws in the closing minute
- Klay Thompson’s last-second three-point attempt to level the game for Dallas was off target, allowing Portland to seal a 125-122 win
Match Analysis
The Portland Trail Blazers claimed a tightly contested 125-122 triumph over the Dallas Mavericks at home on Monday night, thanks in large part to a near triple-double from Deni Avdija. Avdija posted 27 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds, orchestrating the offence with precision and coming just one rebound shy of the statistical achievement.
Shaedon Sharpe contributed 24 points to the winning effort, while Caleb Love made a substantial impact off the bench with 24 points of his own, highlighted by six three-pointers and the pivotal free throws with less than a minute remaining in regulation.
BLAZERS WIN!!
BLAZERS WIN!! pic.twitter.com/fFxHUY1amO— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 30, 2025
Key Moments in the Fourth Quarter
After holding a 17-point advantage in the second quarter and a 75-63 halftime lead, the Trail Blazers saw their cushion dwindle as Dallas mounted a comeback. Portland led 95-84 with 1:30 left in the third quarter before the Mavericks responded with a 9-2 run, culminating in Klay Thompson’s running three-pointer with just 0.7 seconds left to trim the deficit to 97-93.
Thompson then tied the contest at 99 with a shot from distance at the 9:35 mark in the fourth. Max Christie put Dallas in front for the first time in the second half at 106-105 following another three-pointer, setting off a sequence that saw the lead change hands eight times through the final quarter.
Dallas went ahead by four before Avdija scored on a layup and Love connected for three, swinging the advantage back to Portland at 118-117 with just over two minutes on the clock. Christie nailed a critical three-pointer to lift Dallas to a 122-121 lead with 1:09 remaining, but that would be the visitors’ final score.
Love calmly converted two free throws with 53.2 seconds left, after which Naji Marshall missed twice from deep for Dallas. Sharpe then iced the match with a pair of foul shots with three seconds left. Thompson’s last-gasp three-pointer failed to find the target as the Trail Blazers escaped with their narrow win.
Individual Performances and Statistics
| Portland Trail Blazers | Stats | Dallas Mavericks | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deni Avdija | 27 pts, 11 ast, 9 reb | Max Christie | 25 pts |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 24 pts | Brandon Williams | 22 pts |
| Caleb Love | 24 pts (6 3PM) | Cooper Flagg | 15 pts, 8 ast, 6 reb |
What’s Next
The Dallas Mavericks will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, looking to rebound from this narrow defeat. The Portland Trail Blazers, meanwhile, are set to visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
