Key Highlights
- The Portland Trail Blazers suffered a tough overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks with a score of 138-133.
- The game highlights included Brandon Williams’ impactful performance and Cooper Flagg’s mixed bag for the Mavericks.
- The Blazers faced challenges in both their center tandem and bench contributions, leading to a loss on their first five-game road trip of the season.
- The team held a players-only meeting after losses to Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks.
Blazers’ Struggles Continue: A Tough Loss Against Dallas Mavericks
The Portland Trail Blazers experienced another challenging night as they faced off against the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA matchup on November 16, 2025. The game concluded with a close 138-133 victory for the Mavericks, adding to the Blazer’s woes during their current road trip.
No Jrue is No Good
The absence of starting point guard Jrue Holiday due to a calf strain seemed to significantly impact the Blazers’ performance. Despite this, the team still managed to score in double digits across all five starters. Notably, Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant each contributed 29 points, while Shaedon Sharpe led with an impressive 36 points.
Behind-the-Scenes Drama
The Blazers held a players-only meeting following their loss to the Houston Rockets on November 14. This internal discussion might have aimed at addressing recent underperformance and setting new strategies for improvement. However, the team’s subsequent performance on the court indicated that the message had yet to fully resonate as they struggled in the final minutes of play.
Key Performances
The Mavericks’ Brandon Williams shone with 15 points, 6 assists, and a single turnover down the stretch. Cooper Flagg also contributed significantly, scoring 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting. Despite the strong showing from key players like Williams and Flagg, it was clear that the Blazers were outmatched in terms of three-point accuracy, shooting only 30% compared to the Mavericks’ impressive 68%.
Center Tandem’s Struggle
The center duo of Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III combined for 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting with 16 rebounds (9 offensive!) but saw no action in the final three minutes of regulation or overtime. This absence from the critical moments of the game raised questions about the team’s strategy and decision-making.
Up Next: Home Stand
The Blazers return home for a matchup against the Phoenix Suns on November 18, with the game scheduled at 8pm Pacific time. The victory over Dallas might provide some momentum, but the team will need to address their defensive shortcomings and offensive balance moving forward.
