Dallas Mavericks: Top 10 moments of the 2018-19 NBA season

DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates with Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks after scoring a basket against Kenrich Williams #34 of the New Orleans Pelicans to become the sixth all-time leading scorer in the NBA at American Airlines Center on March 18, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 18: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates with Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks after scoring a basket against Kenrich Williams #34 of the New Orleans Pelicans to become the sixth all-time leading scorer in the NBA at American Airlines Center on March 18, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

7. 15-point comeback against the Blazers

In a mid-February matchup against the Trail Blazers, the Mavericks had managed to dig themselves into a deficit as high as 15 in the final frame. Their chances of winning were slim, and a defeat would be their 30th of the season.

In the final 10 minutes, Dallas managed to flip a magical switch, mounting a furious comeback by outscoring Portland by 15 in the fourth quarter.  Using a 24-5, the Mavs chipped away before winning by just a single point after Damian Lillard was met at the rim by Maxi Kleber, whose size forced the point guard to alter his look enough to make it go awry.

As they’d been all season, the Mavs were led on the shoulders of their fearless rookie. Doncic would finish the game with what had become a standard line of 28 points, including 13 in the game’s final frame, along with nine rebounds and six assists.

After that crushing defeat at the hands of the Blazers in December, this comeback effort was not only a moral victory for this squad, but also payback for the loss earlier in the season that could’ve gone either way.