Terry, Mavs down Trail Blazers

Devin Harris scored 18 points for Dallas, which has split its last four games after ripping off nine straight wins. Dirk Nowitzki scored 11 points, and DeSagana Diop and Austin Croshere both grabbed 10 rebounds for the Mavericks, whose next win or Phoenix loss will clinch the top seed in the Western Conference.

In injury news for Dallas, guard Josh Howard (ankle) sat out Saturday’s game against Portland. Howard went down with a sprain Friday night versus Denver.

Jarrett Jack scored 18 points for the Blazers, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Travis Outlaw netted 16 points as the only other player in double figures for the Blazers.

Dallas got an early lead on a 9-0 spurt sparked by a Terry jumper with 9:39 remaining in the first, and led 26-21 heading into the second.

The Mavs blew the game open in the second quarter. They went on a 23-6 run sparked by a pair of Harris free throws less than two minutes into the stanza, and led 51-33 at halftime.

Dallas maintained its lead through the third, preventing Portland from gaining any ground, as the Mavs took a 72-53 lead into the fourth.

Portland hesitated at a rally late in the fourth on a 7-2 spurt but Outlaw’s two straight jumpers only cut its deficit to 81-68 with less than three minutes to go.

Game Notes

Phoenix travels to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Sunday, and Dallas welcomes the Clippers on Monday...Saturday’s showdown between Dallas and Portland was the third and final meeting of the season. The Mavs swept the season series and have won 13 straight and 14 of the last 15 meetings...Portland has lost eight straight and 11 of its last 12 trips to Dallas.