{"id":407062,"date":"2011-04-29T09:02:13","date_gmt":"2011-04-29T09:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/29\/mavs-hold-off-blazers-face-lakers-next-ap\/"},"modified":"2011-04-29T09:02:13","modified_gmt":"2011-04-29T09:02:13","slug":"mavs-hold-off-blazers-face-lakers-next-ap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/29\/mavs-hold-off-blazers-face-lakers-next-ap\/","title":{"rendered":"Mavs hold off Blazers, face Lakers next (AP)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)\u2014The Dallas Mavericks<\/a> have had trouble in the playoffs in recent years, so Dirk Nowitzki<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> didn\u2019t want to take too much away from conquering the Portland Trail Blazers<\/a> in the first round.<\/p>\n

Not with the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> looming.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you\u2019ve been in the playoffs for a number of years, you want to win it all. We understand that to win it all you have to take the first step and that\u2019s winning in the first round,\u201d Nowitzki said. \u201cWe feel good about that, but we know we have a long way to go. Now we\u2019ll see the defending champions so we have our hands full.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nowitzki had 33 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Mavs hold off the Blazers 103-96 in Game 6 on Thursday night. Next up is the two-time defending champion Lakers.<\/p>\n

Before this season, the Mavs had won just a single playoff series since reaching the NBA finals for the first and only time in 2006. They\u2019d been bounced in the first round in three of the previous four years.<\/p>\n

Since the start of the 2006 NBA finals\u2014which the Mavs lost in six games to Miami after taking a 2-0 series lead\u2014Dallas had gone just 2-18 on the road in the postseason.<\/p>\n

Until Thursday at the Rose Garden.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot a lot of people picked us to win this series, and not a lot of people are going to pick us to win the next series,\u201d Nowitzki said. \u201cWe\u2019re just going to go out there and keep competing, play smart and play off each other the way we have all season. And we\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blazers led by as many as 12 points early after Gerald Wallace<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> went on a tear with 13 first-quarter points. But Wallace left the game for much of the second quarter with a sore back and Portland surrendered the lead.<\/p>\n

Wallace returned and finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> added 24 points and 10 rebounds.<\/p>\n

Wallace\u2019s fast-break dunk narrowed it to 86-85 with 5:24 to go, but Jason Kidd<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> answered with a 3-pointer and Terry added a step-back jumper for the Mavericks.<\/p>\n

After Wallace made a pair of free throws, Aldridge missed two for Portland and Shawn Marion\u2019s<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> hook made it 93-87 for Dallas.<\/p>\n

Jason Terry<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> added a jumper to put the Mavs ahead 95-89 with 1:42 to go. He finished with 22 points.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo words can explain how we feel tonight,\u201d said Brandon Roy<\/a>(notes)<\/a>,<\/span> who powered the Blazers\u2019 stunning comeback in a Game 4 victory. \u201cIt\u2019s over. There\u2019s no NIT in the NBA. It\u2019s over, it\u2019s tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blazers went cold when Wallace headed to the locker room with lower back tightness, and the Mavericks went on a 16-4 run to tie it at 35.<\/p>\n

Dallas extended its lead to 47-41 on Nowitzki\u2019s dunk with 1:10 left, and the Mavs closed the half ahead 52-43 after Terry\u2019s 3-pointer.<\/p>\n

Third-seeded Dallas took control of the series with a 93-82 victory at American Airlines Center on Monday night in Game 5.<\/p>\n

The Blazers have never been able to win a playoff series after falling behind 3-2. They\u2019ve been bounced from the first round for three straight seasons.<\/p>\n

NOTES: The Mavericks activated reserve guard Rodrigue Beaubois<\/a>(notes)<\/a>,<\/span> who had not appeared in the playoffs because of a sprained left foot. He did not play. \u2026 The Blazers have never won a playoff series seeded sixth or lower. \u2026 The Mavericks and the Blazers also met in the first round in 2003. Dallas also claimed that series in six games.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Read More:
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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)\u2014The Dallas Mavericks have had trouble in the playoffs in recent years, so Dirk Nowitzki (notes) didn\u2019t want to take too much away from conquering the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. 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