• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Mavs and Blazers return to Dallas for pivotal Game 5

Apr 25, 2011 - 2:34 PM (Sports Network) - Home court has been the story in the Western Conference quarterfinals set between the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers as the teams get ready to square off in the pivotal Game 5 of their series in Big D.

The Mavs held serve in the first two games of the set but came up empty during the following two in Rip City. Brandon Roy scored Portland's final eight points on Saturday to cap a huge fourth quarter rally, as the Trail Blazers erased a 23-point deficit to defeat Dallas, 84-82, in Game 4.

"It still just doesn't feel real yet," said Roy. "It was just an unbelievable game."

Roy, who had arthroscopic surgery on both his knees in January, scored 18 of his 24 points in the final frame for the Blazers, who also won 97-92 on Thursday and now head back to Dallas with the series even at two games apiece.

"We here in Portland know what he is capable of doing," Portland coach Nate McMillan said when asked about Roy. "Tonight was the Brandon Roy of old. He took the game on his shoulders and carried the team, willed the team to win."

LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points and six rebounds for Portland, which outscored Dallas, 35-15, in the fourth, marking the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise playoff history. The Blazers also became just the third team in the NBA's shot-clock era to win a playoff game when trailing by 18 or more points entering the fourth quarter.

Andre Miller donated 14 points and Gerald Wallace had 10 points and 11 rebounds in the triumph.

"I never thought we were going to win the game, but I thought we just needed to keep putting pressure on them to give ourselves a chance," said Roy. "We just kept getting stops and the balls came our way. It was an incredible game to be a part of."

Dirk Nowitzki tallied 20 points for the Mavericks, who have a bad history at the Rose Garden. The Blazers are 47-18 at home against the Mavs in the regular season and 8-1 in the postseason.

Jason Terry had 13 points in a reserve role for Dallas, which lost its eighth straight road playoff game. Shawn Marion contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

"What got us the lead was stops and scores, and what lost us the lead was we went eight straight times without scoring," said Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle. "Obviously, it's a very tough loss and we're very disappointed."

In its history, Dallas has won all three Game 5s played at home when a series has been deadlocked at 2-2.

The Mavericks split four meetings with Portland in the regular season.

Portland and Dallas have met in the playoffs three times previously, with the Trail Blazers winning two of the three series. The last time these two squads met in the playoffs was in 2003 when the Mavs topped Portland in seven games.

Game 6 of the set will be Thursday back in Portland.