PORTLAND, Oregon. (AP) Damian Lillard had 36 points and 10 assists as the Portland Trail Blazers went on a five-game losing streak with a 136-119 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night.
Jusuf Nurkic added 22 points and 11 rebounds to the Blazers, who will play the Mavericks again on Sunday night.
Spencer Dinwiddie led Dallas with 25 points. Luka Doncic scored a season-high 15 points before Mavericks coach Jason Kidd stopped him with seven minutes left.
''It's fine. When you're trying to fight for the win and you get so funky, it seems like it's never going to end. But you just have to keep pushing,” Lillard said of the end of the losing streak. “I said that when your mind is in order and you are pushing, everyone is pulling the rope in the same direction, you find your way to where you need to get to. And in many cases, one is enough.”
Portland led by a full 20 points early in the second half and entered the fourth quarter 106-90. Nurkic dunked to give the Blazers a 116-94 lead with 9:59 left.
Doncic and Lillard had a heated exchange before Lillard scored a goal to give the Blazers a 122-102 lead. Tim Hardaway Jr. left the court shortly before and limped into the locker room with a left ankle injury.
The Mavs have already suffered from injuries, with Josh Green, Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith out of action.
"Hopefully we get better soon, but for now we'll have to play guys in uniform," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said.
Lillard started but was listed as a pre-game questionable player after twisting his ankle early in Portland's 119–113 loss to the Cavaliers on Thursday. Lillard came out and scored 11 points in the first quarter against the Mavs.
On Thursday, Dallas defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-115 in double overtime. The win broke a two-match losing drift.
Christian Wood was ruled out before the game due to pain in his right ankle. Wood played 48 minutes against the Lakers, posting 24 points and 14 rebounds.
Portland had a 31-30 lead after the first period. The Mavericks pinned him with eight of 13 three-point attempts.
Taking advantage while Doncic rested in the second quarter, Shedon Sharp's three-pointer, Nurkic's free kick and free kick put Portland up 47–36.
A three-pointer from Lillard gave the Blazers a 65–49 lead, and they led 71–56 at halftime. Lillard ended the half with 24 points while Doncic had five.
“We blew ahead,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “We played much better. We were very, very aggressive defensively and that just spurred us on."
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Kidd was asked if he wouldn't play college ball if he got the G League like Mavs guard Jayden Hardy. He joked, "I would have quit in 8th grade." ... Dwight Powell got into trouble early on with a fourth-place finish 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. ... With his fifth assist of the night, Lillard moved to second on the Blazers' career list, ahead of Clyde Drexler. Lillard is already the team's top scorer.
NEXT:
The Trail Blazers and Mavericks will meet again on Sunday night, ending a four-game streak between the teams this season. "The general store is here in Portland," Kidd said. “We are here for two games and then we don’t see them anymore. We'll finish them after tomorrow."
