Mavericks 96 - 104 Trail Blazers
Final
  for this game

Mavs finish up lengthy road trip in Portland

Apr 3, 2011 - 4:44 PM (Sports Network) - The Dallas Mavericks will finish up a season-long six-game road trip by visiting Rip City to face a Portland team shooting for its eighth straight home win.

The game could also serve as a possible first round playoff preview as Dallas currently holds down the third spot in the Western Conference while Portland is No. 6.

The Mavs lost their second straight game and fell to 3-2 on their trek Saturday in Oakland when Monta Ellis had 32 points to lead Golden State to a 99-92 win over Dallas.

Dirk Nowitzki had an off night, going 5-of-16 from the field for 16 points for the Mavericks. Shawn Marion led the way with 21 points, while Jason Terry added 17, also off the bench.

Dallas still has a firm hold on the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, three games ahead of Oklahoma City. They trail the Lakers by 2 1/2 games for second place.

"We'd love to get some wins here before we start off, but the playoffs are also a completely new season," Nowitzki said. "We look a little flat lately, look a little tired. So hopefully we can step it up here."

The Blazers, meanwhile, won their seventh consecutive contest at the Rose Garden on Friday when LaMarcus Aldridge scored 32 points to carry Portland to a 98-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Nicolas Batum contributed 19 points while Andre Miller and Gerald Wallace added 13 apiece for the Blazers, who have won four of six and moved overall into sole possession of the No. 6 seed in the West. Portland is currently one- half game ahead of Memphis and a full game in front of New Orleans.

"We did what we needed to go," Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said. "We got to the free throw line and took care of the ball."

Portland, which will clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight and a Houston loss against Atlanta, snapped a three-game skid to the Mavs with a 104-101 win in the Rose Garden back on March 15.






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