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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
DALLAS (AP) -- No matter what the Portland Trail Blazers thought
of Dallas before, they now know the Mavericks aren't a bunch of
pushovers.
Dirk Nowitzki overcame a slow start to score 29 points and
Dallas withstood seven technical fouls and several cheap shots by
Portland to pull out a 106-101 victory Wednesday night.
|  | | The Mavs' Gary Trent (33) tries to throw the ball away from Arvydas Sabonis (11) after falling to the floor in the fourth quarter. |
"The coaching staff had said that Portland thought we were
soft, but when there were confrontations we stood our ground and
didn't back down," said Michael Finley, who scored 20 points.
The Mavericks won their fourth straight to improve to 18-10,
their best start since 1987-88. They've won five straight at home,
their longest stretch since March-April 1988.
The Blazers, who had won four straight, led by six early but
couldn't shake Dallas. Then the Mavs took the lead and Portland
responded by getting hit with four technicals. Dallas got three in
the span, two for retaliation and one for an in-your-face
celebration.
"This was the closest thing to a playoff game I've been in
since I've been here," Finley said.
Said Portland coach Mike Dunleavy, who was ejected with 5:49
left after getting his second technical: "No tone needs to be set.
We let our emotions get to us and they took the game away."
Things began to unravel when Bonzi Wells griped about a foul on
Nowitzki while the German was at the line. He hit all three shots,
giving Dallas an 87-82 lead.
The next time the Mavericks had the ball, Wells planted himself
in the Dallas backcourt and tripped Finley hard. Finley got up and
screamed in Wells' face, then was pulled away by Shawn Bradley
while practically the entire Portland bench ran onto the court.
Offsetting technicals were called on Finley and Stacey Augmon.
Next up was Scottie Pippen, who tripped Bradley in the
backcourt. Bradley's response drew a technical while Pippen got
only a personal foul. Dunleavy's reaction led to his second
technical, forcing him out. He ran back onto the court to scream at
officials after his penalty was announced.
"I saw Bradley throw a punch and they T'd him up on it,"
Dunleavy said. "To me, I think that is an altercation and I
thought I was allowed to come out on the floor basically as a
peacemaker. Then, all of a sudden, he comes quietly over to me and
says, 'You're gone.' "
Portland pulled to 89-86, but Nowitzki scored nine of Dallas'
next 13 points for a 102-94 lead with 51.2 seconds left. Bradley
was ejected when his celebration of Nowitzki's last basket drew his
second technical.
"The game got ugly and ragged and they took advantage,"
Portland's Steve Smith said. "It used to take a lot to get a
technical. Now, you better not blink. Dale Davis can barely dunk
and he gets a technical for hanging on the rim."
Dallas' winning streak began when coach Don Nelson returned from
a three-game absence while seeking treatment for prostate cancer.
This win tied Nelson with Bill Fitch for No. 3 on the NBA's
all-time victory list at 944.
Damon Stoudamire led the Blazers with 22 points and Rasheed
Wallace added 20.
Portland did not use Shawn Kemp, who missed a practice Tuesday.
He was fined for the absence, which he blamed on weariness
triggered by a new diet, but was not suspended. Coach Mike Dunleavy
did say his minutes would be cut as punishment.
Game notes
Steve Nash had 18 points and eight assists for Dallas. ...
Pippen had a season-high nine assists. His 11 points gave him
16,966 in his career, passing Bob Cousy (16,960). ... The
poor-rebounding Mavs outrebounded the Blazers 47-34. ... Portland
had been 4-0 against Midwest teams.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Portland Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
Kemp, fined for missing Blazers' practice, says he fell asleep
RECAPS
Boston 99
New Jersey 86
Toronto 99
Indiana 98
Charlotte 65
Miami 56
Dallas 106
Portland 101
Utah 91
Philadelphia 89
San Antonio 94
Cleveland 77
Denver 108
Detroit 106
Seattle 89
Sacramento 85
Vancouver 118
Washington 104
LA Clippers 103
Minnesota 96
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Mike Dunleavy Official Site
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