lead, but Dallas outplays

them down the stretch

"

Letting one get away

Physical game

features five

technical fouls

JOE FREEMAN

There was no fourth-quarter rescue from Brandon Roy this time against a playoff-caliber opponent.

The Trail Blazers' run of Christmas success came to a screeching halt Thursday night at the Rose Garden at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, who escaped Portland with a scrappy 102-94 victory before a sellout crowd.

After the Blazers reversed a double-digit deficit to take an 80-77 lead after three quarters, energizing a raucous crowd, the Mavericks used a late 9-0 run to steal a win from the Blazers, who had won 13 consecutive Christmas Day games.

It was part of a disastrous fourth quarter for the Blazers (18-12), who were outscored 25-14 to fall out of a first-place tie with Denver (18-11) in the Northwest Division.

The difference was Dirk Nowitzki, who entered the game ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring at 29.7 points per game. The 7-foot All-Star forward made 12 of 18 field goals and finished with a game-high 30 points --24 coming in an electric first half --and five rebounds.

He steered a three-headed Mavericks attack that also featured double-digit scoring performances from Josh Howard (15 points) and Jason Terry (19 points). Point guard Jason Kidd had 10 assists.

After Travis Outlaw gave the Blazers a 92-90 lead with a jumpshot with 5:30 left, the Mavericks scored nine consecutive points to take a 99-92 advantage and deliver the dagger to the Blazers.

Roy, who scored 12 fourth-quarter points to help the Blazers beat Denver on Tuesday, was uncharacteristically off his down the stretch Thursday night. He missed all five of his field goal attempts and did not score in the fourth quarter. He finished with 22 points, but made just 8 of 20 shots.

LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 12 points but attempted just three field goals, none in the first half.

Rudy Fernandez (13 points), Outlaw (13 points, four steals) and Steve Blake (14 points, seven assists) also reached double figures for the Blazers.

But it wasn't enough in a physical game that featured five technical fouls and heated play.

The Mavericks gained momentum in the first quarter when they outscored the Blazers 25-8 during six-minute stretch that featured poor shooting and turnovers by the Blazers. Nowitzki was the difference-maker during the run, making 6 of 8 shots and scoring 12 points, including nine of the Mavericks' 10 during one stretch. Howard added nine points to help the Mavericks take a 27-18 lead.

The Blazers didn't help their cause by committing five turnovers during the Mavericks' run.

But they chipped away at the lead, trimming it to 59-55 by halftime. They regained the lead at 67-66 midway through the third quarter.

The physical play reached a peak with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter. After Joel Przybilla gathered a pretty bounce pass from Blake under the basket, Przybilla was pushed by Howard and knocked to the court while going up for a layup. Howard was whistled for a flagrant foul, giving the Blazers two free throws and the ball.

Afterward, Howard and Przybilla were each assessed technical fouls. After Przybilla made his first free throw, Howard was pulled from the game and as the 6-foot-7 forward headed to the bench, he argued some more --and was given another technical. Rudy Fernandez swished the free throw and the score was tied at 70-70.

On the ensuing possession --courtesy of the flagrant foul --Outlaw made 1 of 2 free throws to give the Blazers their second lead of the second half at 71-70. But it wouldn't last as the Mavericks handed the Blazers their third home loss of the season.

Joe Freeman: 503-294-5183;

joefreeman@news.oregonian.com

Read his "Behind the Beat" blog

at blog.oregonlive.com/

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