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The unicorn is shining in Dallas.
With Tuesday’s 112-104 overtime win against the Clippers, Mavericks big man Kristaps Porzingis has now scored at least 20 points in seven straight games — making it the longest streak of his career.
Tuesday’s win came after the Mavericks blew an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter. Paul George forced overtime with a last-second 3-pointer.
“For a second you are disappointed because we should have finished them off (in regulation), but I think we are growing mentally as a team,” said Porzingis, who finished with 30 points, including six in overtime, and seven rebounds. He also made all 10 of his free throws.
“We realized it was five more minutes and we went out there and proved we are the superior team,” Porzingis said.
The 7-foot-3 Latvian and Luka Doncic, in his first game back from an ankle sprain, took over in the final minutes. Doncic recorded 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists for the Mavericks.
After Tuesday’s win, Porzingis said he’s able to produce in big moments because he’s “just feeling free.”
“I would say that’s the main thing, just feeling free to play my game. My teammates are trusting me, my coaches are trusting me. I’m out there just having fun… If you’re not having fun, it’s tough to play and give your all,” Porzingis said.
“I feel like this year, we have that kind of environment and we’re just playing hard for each other and having fun out there.”
Porzingis’ positive outlook comes after he reportedly wanted out of Dallas before Jason Kidd’s hiring.
Porzingis had a sub-par playoff performance in which he took the brunt of the blame for the Mavericks losing to the Clippers in seven games.
The former Knick was also the subject of trade rumors over the summer amid a report of a rift with Doncic, which Porzingis later denied. That was around the same time Doncic was unhappy with the Mavericks parting ways with longtime general manager, Donnie Nelson, in June.
In an interview with NBA.com this week, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said the team never considered trading Porzingis.
The Mavericks and Clippers were facing each other for the second time in three days.
“With each game, I’m feeling more and more comfortable,” Porzingis said after Dallas fell to the Clippers on Sunday — their third consecutive loss. He put up 25 points and eight rebounds in the defeat.
Porzingis was asked how it felt to be “the guy that the office was going to go through” in the final minutes of Sunday’s game.
“Honestly, I haven’t felt like this for a while. The last time I could probably remember was New York,” he said.
The 26-year-old started his career with the Knicks, before a 2019 blockbuster trade that sent him to the Mavericks. New York selected him fourth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Porzingis said that he’s “still getting in a rhythm” to “play without thinking” so much in Dallas.
The Mavericks (10-7) play host to the Wizards (11-7) on Saturday.
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