The Dallas Mavericks were able to pull out a gutty 97-94 double-overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Saturday night. Dirk Nowitzki was his usual stellar self, Jason Terry poured in his usual points and the role players stepped up for Rick Carlisle in a major way.
However, the Mavericks don't win the game on Saturday without the help of Delonte West and a young teenager named Lyndon Bay.
Bay, a teenager with a rare kidney disorder, was befriended by West and was invited to Saturday's game versus the Blazers. West said that seeing Bay at the game was all the inspiration he needed to push through his struggles during the game.
"For the last 12 minutes until that overtime, it was hard for me to get loose," West said. "I thought about it -- I had my man Lyndon Bay at the game -- I thought about all the things he's been through and I just drew my strength from him. I went out there and played tough, like he would want me to."
West's six straight points in the second overtime pushed the Mavericks over the top on Saturday, finished with 10 points for the game. If West keeps it up, Mark Cuban should invite Bay to all of the Dallas home games from here on out.
Related: Mavericks Vs. Trail Blazers: Dallas Defeats Portland In Double Overtime