Mavericks 103, Trail Blazers 96
Dirk Nowitzki had 33 points and 11 rebounds and the visiting Dallas Mavericks ended an eight-game playoff road losing streak and held off the Portland Trail Blazers with a 103-96 victory Thursday night to wrap up their Western Conference first-round series in six games.
Third-seeded Dallas, the first visiting team to win in 10 games between these team this season, will face the two-time defending Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semifinals starting Monday. Dallas had lost 18 of 20 road playoff games and had not won a playoff game away from home since April 2009.
Gerald Wallace had 32 points and 12 rebounds for sixth-seeded Portland, which almost pulled off its second amazing rally in this series. LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Wesley Matthews scored 19 points .
Nowitzki was 11 of 17 from the field and 11 of 11 from the line. Jason Terry had 22 points and eight assists for the Mavericks.
Dallas had blown a 23-point third-quarter lead in an 84-82 Game 4 loss at Portland.
The Mavericks led 75-58 with 44 seconds left in the third quarter after Terry made a 21-foot jumper.
But the Blazers went on another huge run fueled by Aldridge's 10 points. Wallace cut the deficit to 86-85 with a steal and slam, but Dallas responded with a 3-pointer by Jason Kidd and a jumper by Terry for a 91-85 lead with 4:04 remaining.
Wallace's two free throws cut it to 91-87, and Portland had a chance to get closer but Aldridge missed a pair from the line.
Shawn Marion's hook made it 93-87. Wallace answered with two free throws, but Terry nailed a jumper for a 95-89 lead with 1:42 to play and the Mavericks finally could breathe a sigh of relief.
Portland has lost six straight first-round series, the NBA's longest current streak.