PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard had 36 points and 10 assists and the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 136-119 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
Jusuf Nurkic had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who face the Mavericks again on Sunday night.
Spencer Dinwiddie led Dallas with 25 points. Luka Doncic was tied for a season-low 15 points before Mavericks coach Jason Kidd pulled him with seven minutes left.
Portland jumped out to a 20-point lead early in the second half and took a 106-90 lead into the fourth quarter. Nurkic dunked to put the Blazers up 116-94 with 9:59 left.
Doncic and Lillard had a heated exchange before Lillard scored to give the Blazers a 122-102 lead. Tim Hardaway Jr. left the court shortly before and limped to the locker room with what appeared to be a left ankle injury.
Lillard started but was listed as questionable after rolling his ankle early in Thursday’s 119-113 loss to the Portland Cavaliers. Lillard came out and scored 11 points in the first quarter against the Mavs.
Dallas cruised to a 119-115 double overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. The win snapped a two game losing streak.
Christian Wood was out before the game with a sore right ankle. Wood had 24 points and 14 rebounds in 48 minutes against the Lakers.
Portland had a 31-30 lead after the first period. The Mavericks kept it close, making eight of 13 3-point attempts.
With Doncic resting in the second quarter, Shaydon Sharp’s 3-pointer and Nurkic’s layup and free throw gave Portland a 47-36 lead.
Lillard’s 3-pointer put the Blazers up 65-49, and they led 71-56 at halftime. Lillard finished the half with 24 points and Doncic with five.
TIP INS:
Mavericks. Kidd was asked if he would miss playing college ball during the G League like Mavs guard Jaden Hardy, he joked. “I would have dropped out in 8th grade.” … Dwight Powell had an early fumble, picking up his fourth with 2:48 left in the first half.
Trail Blazers. Portland lost the first two games of the series against the Mavericks this season, both in Dallas. Doncic averaged 37.5 points against the Blazers.
NEXT.
The Trail Blazers and Mavericks meet again on Sunday night, ending the four-game series between the teams this season. “One stop shop here in Portland,” Kidd said. “We’re here for two games and then we won’t see them again. We are done with them after tomorrow.”
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