Dennis Smith Jr. is one of the best young dunkers in the NBA. He was featured in the 2018 NBA Slam Dunk contest, although he was eliminated in the first round.
Maybe that’s why the Dallas Mavericks guard broke out a little dunk contest magic against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.
Smith Jr. wound up with the ball on a breakaway during a play late in the fourth quarter as Portland struggled. Damian Lillard, who had rolled his ankle earlier in the game, couldn’t make a cut to receive a kick out and Smith Jr. stole the ball.
That allowed Smith Jr. the chance to work his magic with a sweet dunk that included a bounce to himself.
Via Twitter:
!!! pic.twitter.com/Txy7DAhjBH
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 4, 2018
Normally I’d rate that about a 9, but since it was an in-game dunk I’m saying it’s a full-fledged 10. That’s just ridiculous, not to mention all kinds of swaggy given the game scenario. Smith Jr.'s dunk was the icing on the cake for the Mavericks.
Dallas beat Portland handily, 115-109. The Blazers’ lead over the San Antonio Spurs for third place in the Western Conference continues to shrink.