GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: PORTLAND (5-10) at DALLAS (10-5)

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NBA: PORTLAND (5-10) at DALLAS (10-5)

<h3>Trail Blazers searching for first road win vs. Mavericks</h3>

<div class="pre">Portland (5-10) at Dallas (10-5) 8:30 pm EST</div>

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail Blazers go for their firstroad win of the season on Friday when they visit the Dallas Mavericks.

The Trail Blazers are 0-7 on the road this season and have lostseven of their last eight overall. Portland suffered a 95-89setback against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday - its secondconsecutive loss.


Brandon Roy, the 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year, scored just 10points on 6-of-18 shooting from the field against the Pacers.The 23-year-old point guard has scored more than 16 points justonce in his last six games.


"I don't think we are underacheiving but I think I'munderacheiving," Roy said following the loss. "It's tough rightnow. My teammates are playing well for us and I'm not helpingus out."


The Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday,claiming a 109-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After suffering its first home loss of the season on Monday,Dallas got back on track against the Timberwolves, improving itshome record to 7-1 this season.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND (5-10) at DALLAS (10-5)

<h3>Trail Blazers searching for first road win vs. Mavericks</h3>

<div class="pre">Portland (5-10) at Dallas (10-5) 8:30 pm EST</div>

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail Blazers go for their firstroad win of the season on Friday when they visit the Dallas Mavericks.

The Trail Blazers are 0-7 on the road this season and have lostseven of their last eight overall. Portland suffered a 95-89setback against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday - its secondconsecutive loss.


Brandon Roy, the 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year, scored just 10points on 6-of-18 shooting from the field against the Pacers.The 23-year-old point guard has scored more than 16 points justonce in his last six games.


"I don't think we are underacheiving but I think I'munderacheiving," Roy said following the loss. "It's tough rightnow. My teammates are playing well for us and I'm not helpingus out."


The Mavericks snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday,claiming a 109-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After suffering its first home loss of the season on Monday,Dallas got back on track against the Timberwolves, improving itshome record to 7-1 this season.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">PORTLAND AT DALLAS - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


PORTLAND DALLAS

F Lamarcus Aldridge F Josh Howard
F Martell Webster F Dirk Nowitzki
C Joel Przybilla C Erick Dampier
G Steve Blake G Jason Terry
G Brandon Roy G Devin Harris

OFFICIALS: Steve Javie
Jason Phillips
Kevin Fehr</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">PORTLAND VS DALLAS - INACTIVES

PORTLAND DALLAS

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
D MILES KNEE INJURY E JONES ANKLE INJURY
T GREEN COACH'S DECISION D GEORGE FOOT INJURY
G ODEN KNEE INJURY N FAZEKAS NBDL</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 11
DALLAS 6 7:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 11
DALLAS 6 5:45 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 15
DALLAS 16 2:49 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 19
DALLAS 18 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 19 19
DALLAS 18 18 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

POR - LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE 8, STEVE BLAKE 7,
BRANDON ROY 2
DAL - JOSH HOWARD 8, DEVIN HARRIS 4, ERICK
DAMPIER 2</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 25
DALLAS 24 8:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 28
DALLAS 30 5:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 30
DALLAS 36 2:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 36
DALLAS 44 HALFTIME</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 19 17 36
DALLAS 18 26 44 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

POR - LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE 12, STEVE BLAKE 9,
TRAVIS OUTLAW 4
DAL - JOSH HOWARD 14, BRANDON BASS 8, DIRK
NOWITZKI 7</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 42
DALLAS 54 9:18 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 47
DALLAS 60 5:57 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 59
DALLAS 76 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 19 17 23 59
DALLAS 18 26 32 76 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

POR - LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE 17, STEVE BLAKE 9,
TRAVIS OUTLAW 8
DAL - JOSH HOWARD 20, DIRK NOWITZKI 11, DEVIN
HARRIS 10</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 68
DALLAS 84 8:22 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 75
DALLAS 86 2:53 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND 80
DALLAS 91 FINAL</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PORTLAND 19 17 23 21 80
DALLAS 18 26 32 15 91 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: POR - LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE 22, STEVE BLAKE 12,
SERGIO RODRIGUEZ 10
DAL - JOSH HOWARD 23, JASON TERRY 17, DEVIN
HARRIS 14</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

DALLAS (Ticker) -- Josh Howard and the Dallas Maverickscontinued to mistreat a Western Conference foe - the PortlandTrail Blazers.


Howard scored 23 points and grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds asthe Mavericks cruised past the Trail Blazers, 91-80, on Friday.

Jason Terry scored 17 points and Devin Harris had 14 and sevenassists for Dallas, which has won two in a row following aseason-high three-game losing streak.


The Mavericks also continued their domination of the TrailBlazers, winning for the 14th time in 15 games vs. Portland,including nine straight here.


Dallas hadn't lost to Portland since December 23, 2003 until theBlazers captured their first win in the series in nearly fouryears with a 91-82 victory on November 10.


Portland is now 0-8 away from home this season.


Howard, who connected on 8-of-15 from the floor and collectedhis second double-double of the season, scored 14 points in thefirst half to help Dallas take a 44-36 halftime lead.

The fourth-year forward, who also went 7-of-7 from thefree-throw line, scored six in the third as the Mavericksincreased their advantage to 76-59, heading into the finalperiod.


Dallas, which made 14-of-19 field goals in the third, shot 45percent (37-of-82) overall.


LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points and hauled in 12 boards forPortland, which shot 43 percent (32-of-74) and has lost 12straight on the road dating to last season.


Steve Blake scored 12 points and handed out five assists for theTrail Blazers, who reduced their deficit to 86-80 with 1:49left before the Mavericks extended out to their winning margin.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
PORTLAND 80
DALLAS 91 FINAL</div>

 

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NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (80) AT DALLAS (91)

PORTLAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S BLAKE G 31:47 5-8 0-0 0 0 0 5 3 0 1 12
B ROY G 31:55 3-12 2-2 1 4 5 2 4 1 2 8
L ALDRIDGE F 41:05 9-15 4-6 3 9 12 1 1 1 2 22
M WEBSTER F 26:49 3-9 0-0 2 3 5 2 1 0 1 6
J PRZYBILLA C 20:09 3-5 0-0 0 4 4 0 4 0 1 6
J JACK 31:45 2-7 3-5 0 4 4 0 2 1 2 8
T OUTLAW 29:12 3-9 2-4 2 2 4 0 3 1 0 8
S RODRIGUEZ 15:38 4-6 1-2 0 1 1 5 1 1 2 10
R LAFRENTZ 8:17 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0
J JONES 3:23 0-3 0-0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0

TOTALS 240:00 32-74 12-19 10 28 38 15 20 6 13 80
(.432) (.632) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 13 (0 PTS)

DALLAS

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D HARRIS G 37:00 5-14 4-4 2 1 3 7 3 1 1 14
J TERRY G 37:27 6-13 1-2 0 2 2 4 3 1 0 17
D NOWITZKI F 32:36 5-15 1-1 0 2 2 2 4 0 3 11
J HOWARD F 42:09 8-15 7-7 2 12 14 3 2 2 1 23
E DAMPIER C 27:32 2-5 0-0 2 5 7 1 4 0 2 4
B BASS 18:19 5-9 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 0 10
D DIOP 17:33 4-5 0-0 2 6 8 0 1 1 1 8
J STACKHOUSE 16:24 1-4 0-0 2 2 4 4 0 0 3 2
J BAREA 11:00 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2

TOTALS 240:00 37-82 13-14 11 32 43 23 21 5 11 91
(.451) (.929) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 12 (0 PTS)

PORTLAND 19 17 23 21 - 80
DALLAS 18 26 32 15 - 91

BLOCKED SHOTS: PORTLAND - L ALDRIDGE 5, J PRZYBILLA 2, R LAFRENTZ.
DALLAS - D NOWITZKI 2, D DIOP.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PORTLAND 4-14 (.286), S BLAKE 2-2, B ROY 0-5, M WEBSTER 0-
1, J JACK 1-4, T OUTLAW 0-1, S RODRIGUEZ 1-1. DALLAS 4-9 (.444), D HARRIS 0-
1, J TERRY 4-7, J STACKHOUSE 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JASON PHILLIPS, KEVIN FEHR, STEVE JAVIE.
A - 20,301. T - 2:11.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (80)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Blake 31:47 5-8 0-0 0-0 5 3 12
B Roy 31:55 3-12 2-2 1-5 2 4 8
L Aldridge 41:05 9-15 4-6 3-12 1 1 22
M Webster 26:49 3-9 0-0 2-5 2 1 6
J Przybilla 20:09 3-5 0-0 0-4 0 4 6
J Jack 31:45 2-7 3-5 0-4 0 2 8
T Outlaw 29:12 3-9 2-4 2-4 0 3 8
S Rodriguez 15:38 4-6 1-2 0-1 5 1 10
R LaFrentz 8:17 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
J Jones 3:23 0-3 0-0 2-2 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-74 12-19 10-38 15 20 80
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.432, FT-.632. 3-Point Goals:
4-14, .286 (S Blake 2-2, B Roy 0-5, M Webster
0-1, J Jack 1-4, T Outlaw 0-1, S Rodriguez
1-1). Team Rebounds: 6. Blocked Shots:8 (L
Aldridge 5, J Przybilla 2, R LaFrentz).
Turnovers:13 (B Roy 2, J Jack 2, L Aldridge
2, S Rodriguez 2, R LaFrentz, M Webster, J
Przybilla, J Jones, S Blake). Steals: 6 (R
LaFrentz, B Roy, J Jack, T Outlaw, L
Aldridge, S Rodriguez).


DALLAS (91)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Harris 37:00 5-14 4-4 2-3 7 3 14
J Terry 37:27 6-13 1-2 0-2 4 3 17
D Nowitzki 32:36 5-15 1-1 0-2 2 4 11
J Howard 42:09 8-15 7-7 2-14 3 2 23
E Dampier 27:32 2-5 0-0 2-7 1 4 4
B Bass 18:19 5-9 0-0 1-3 0 2 10
D Diop 17:33 4-5 0-0 2-8 0 1 8
J Stackhouse 16:24 1-4 0-0 2-4 4 0 2
J Barea 11:00 1-2 0-0 0-0 2 2 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-82 13-14 11-43 23 21 91
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.451, FT-.929. 3-Point Goals:
4-9, .444 (D Harris 0-1, J Terry 4-7, J
Stackhouse 0-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked
Shots:3 (D Nowitzki 2, D Diop). Turnovers:11
(J Stackhouse 3, D Nowitzki 3, E Dampier 2, D
Diop, D Harris, J Howard). Steals: 5 (J
Howard 2, J Terry, D Diop, D Harris).

-------------------------------------------
PORTLAND 19 17 23 21 - 80
DALLAS 18 26 32 15 - 91
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,301. T: 2:11.
Officials: Jason Phillips, Kevin Fehr, Steve
Javie.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (80) AT DALLAS (91)

PORTLAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S BLAKE G 31:47 5-8 0-0 0 0 0 5 3 0 1 12
B ROY G 31:55 3-12 2-2 1 4 5 2 4 1 2 8
L ALDRIDGE F 41:05 9-15 4-6 3 9 12 1 1 1 2 22
M WEBSTER F 26:49 3-9 0-0 2 3 5 2 1 0 1 6
J PRZYBILLA C 20:09 3-5 0-0 0 4 4 0 4 0 1 6
J JACK 31:45 2-7 3-5 0 4 4 0 2 1 2 8
T OUTLAW 29:12 3-9 2-4 2 2 4 0 3 1 0 8
S RODRIGUEZ 15:38 4-6 1-2 0 1 1 5 1 1 2 10
R LAFRENTZ 8:17 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0
J JONES 3:23 0-3 0-0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0
C FRYE DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J MCROBERTS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 32-74 12-19 10 28 38 15 20 6 13 80
(.432) (.632) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 13 (12 PTS)

DALLAS

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D HARRIS G 37:00 5-14 4-4 2 1 3 7 3 1 1 14
J TERRY G 37:27 6-13 1-2 0 2 2 4 3 1 0 17
D NOWITZKI F 32:36 5-15 1-1 0 2 2 2 4 0 3 11
J HOWARD F 42:09 8-15 7-7 2 12 14 3 2 2 1 23
E DAMPIER C 27:32 2-5 0-0 2 5 7 1 4 0 2 4
B BASS 18:19 5-9 0-0 1 2 3 0 2 0 0 10
D DIOP 17:33 4-5 0-0 2 6 8 0 1 1 1 8
J STACKHOUSE 16:24 1-4 0-0 2 2 4 4 0 0 3 2
J BAREA 11:00 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 2
J HOWARD DNP - COACH'S DECISION
T HASSELL DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M AGER DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 37-82 13-14 11 32 43 23 21 5 11 91
(.451) (.929) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 12 (10 PTS)

PORTLAND 19 17 23 21 - 80
DALLAS 18 26 32 15 - 91

BLOCKED SHOTS: PORTLAND - L ALDRIDGE 5, J PRZYBILLA 2, R LAFRENTZ.
DALLAS - D NOWITZKI 2, D DIOP.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PORTLAND 4-14 (.286), S BLAKE 2-2, B ROY 0-5, M WEBSTER 0-
1, J JACK 1-4, T OUTLAW 0-1, S RODRIGUEZ 1-1. DALLAS 4-9 (.444), D HARRIS 0-
1, J TERRY 4-7, J STACKHOUSE 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JASON PHILLIPS, KEVIN FEHR, STEVE JAVIE.
A - 20,301. T - 2:09.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">PORTLAND (80)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Blake 31:47 5-8 0-0 0-0 5 3 12
B Roy 31:55 3-12 2-2 1-5 2 4 8
L Aldridge 41:05 9-15 4-6 3-12 1 1 22
M Webster 26:49 3-9 0-0 2-5 2 1 6
J Przybilla 20:09 3-5 0-0 0-4 0 4 6
J Jack 31:45 2-7 3-5 0-4 0 2 8
T Outlaw 29:12 3-9 2-4 2-4 0 3 8
S Rodriguez 15:38 4-6 1-2 0-1 5 1 10
R LaFrentz 8:17 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
J Jones 3:23 0-3 0-0 2-2 0 0 0
C Frye DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J McRoberts DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 32-74 12-19 10-38 15 20 80
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.432, FT-.632. 3-Point Goals:
4-14, .286 (S Blake 2-2, B Roy 0-5, M Webster
0-1, J Jack 1-4, T Outlaw 0-1, S Rodriguez
1-1). Team Rebounds: 6. Blocked Shots:8 (L
Aldridge 5, J Przybilla 2, R LaFrentz).
Turnovers:13 (B Roy 2, J Jack 2, L Aldridge
2, S Rodriguez 2, R LaFrentz, M Webster, J
Przybilla, J Jones, S Blake). Steals: 6 (R
LaFrentz, B Roy, J Jack, T Outlaw, L
Aldridge, S Rodriguez).


DALLAS (91)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Harris 37:00 5-14 4-4 2-3 7 3 14
J Terry 37:27 6-13 1-2 0-2 4 3 17
D Nowitzki 32:36 5-15 1-1 0-2 2 4 11
J Howard 42:09 8-15 7-7 2-14 3 2 23
E Dampier 27:32 2-5 0-0 2-7 1 4 4
B Bass 18:19 5-9 0-0 1-3 0 2 10
D Diop 17:33 4-5 0-0 2-8 0 1 8
J Stackhouse 16:24 1-4 0-0 2-4 4 0 2
J Barea 11:00 1-2 0-0 0-0 2 2 2
J Howard DNP - COACH'S DECISION
T Hassell DNP - COACH'S DECISION
M Ager DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-82 13-14 11-43 23 21 91
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.451, FT-.929. 3-Point Goals:
4-9, .444 (D Harris 0-1, J Terry 4-7, J
Stackhouse 0-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked
Shots:3 (D Nowitzki 2, D Diop). Turnovers:11
(J Stackhouse 3, D Nowitzki 3, E Dampier 2, D
Diop, D Harris, J Howard). Steals: 5 (J
Howard 2, J Terry, D Diop, D Harris).

-------------------------------------------
PORTLAND 19 17 23 21 - 80
DALLAS 18 26 32 15 - 91
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,301. T: 2:09.
Officials: Jason Phillips, Kevin Fehr, Steve
Javie.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: PORTLAND at DALLAS

<div class="pre">NBA PORTLAND AT DALLAS
NOTE: RESENDING TO CORRECT POINTS OFF TURNOVERS AND
ATTENDANCE.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

DALLAS (Ticker) -- Josh Howard and the Dallas Maverickscontinued to mistreat a Western Conference foe - the PortlandTrail Blazers.


Howard scored 23 points and grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds asthe Mavericks cruised past the Trail Blazers, 91-80, on Friday.

Jason Terry scored 17 points and Devin Harris had 14 and sevenassists for Dallas, which has won two in a row following aseason-high three-game losing streak.


"We really won't know what this team is like until probablyafter All-Star break," Terry said. "But until then, the guysthat are playing and healthy have to come out and compete hardevery night and do the best we can do with what we have."

The Mavericks also continued their domination of the TrailBlazers, winning for the 14th time in 15 games vs. Portland,including nine straight here.


Dallas hadn't lost to Portland since December 23, 2003 until theBlazers captured their first win in the series in nearly fouryears with a 91-82 victory on November 10.


Portland is now 0-8 away from home this season.


"It's tough," Trail Blazers swingman Brandon Roy said. "We losttonight and now we've got to go to San Antonio. We've just gotto continue to be competitive. I thought we put ourselves insomewhat of a position to win tonight but we made some mentalmistakes down the stretch."


Howard, who connected on 8-of-15 from the floor and collectedhis second double-double of the season, scored 14 points in thefirst half to help Dallas take a 44-36 halftime lead.

"We had some good practices before this game, and it carriedover," Howard said. "I give a lot of credit to (Erick) Dampierbecause he was out there doing a lot of communicating onoffense. For our bigs to do that helps us out a lot."

The fourth-year forward, who also went 7-of-7 from thefree-throw line, scored six in the third as the Mavericksincreased their advantage to 76-59, heading into the finalperiod.


"Josh was going pretty good for us," Mavericks coach AveryJohnson said. "We tried to go to him a little bit more and hegot fouled a couple of times and went to the line. He madeaggressive moves, and that's what we want him to continue to do.I'm much more excited about Josh's defense."


"We gave up 44 points in the half against the Mavericks who canscore in bunches, then we give up 32 in the third," TrailBlazers coach Nate McMillan said. "The third quarter the lasttwo games, for whatever reason, we're not getting stops and notscoring."


Dallas, which made 14-of-19 field goals in the third, shot 45percent (37-of-82) overall.


LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points and hauled in 12 boards forPortland, which shot 43 percent (32-of-74) and has lost 12straight on the road dating to last season.


"LaMarcus did a good job for us tonight establishing our insidegame," McMillan said. "We got looks, we've just got to knockdown shots."


Steve Blake scored 12 points and handed out five assists for theTrail Blazers, who reduced their deficit to 86-80 with 1:49left before the Mavericks extended out to their winning margin.

"We kind of let down and that's really something we shouldn'tdo," Howard said. "We got comfortable with our lead and theymade some shots, but we were able to hold them off."