Upstart Blazers shoot for rare win over Mavs

Dallas has won 11 of the last 12 meetings in the series, including 10 in a row. The Trail Blazers haven’t beaten the Mavericks since a 97-88 decision at the Rose Garden on December 23, 2003.

Portland has won all three of its home games so far this season, however, including Friday’s 92-91 thriller over New Orleans/Oklahoma City in which the Blazers fought back from a 27-point first-half deficit.

Zach Randolph finished with 31 points and 12 rebounds and sank the winning free throw with 2.4 seconds left. It was the forward’s second straight game of 30-plus points and 10-plus rebounds. Randolph had 36 points and 10 boards in Wednesday’s 101-90 win over the Lakers.

Travis Outlaw chipped in 16 points off the bench for Portland, which did not have head coach Nate McMillan on the bench because of a death in his family. Assistant Dean Demopoulos coached the Blazers in McMillan’s absence.

McMillan is expected to return for this evening’s contest.

Portland won’t have rookie Brandon Roy available, however, as the promising guard is sidelined indefinitely with a left heel injury.

Dallas’ 2006-07 campaign got off to a surprising 0-4 start, but the defending Western Conference champions got back on track with Thursday’s 119-112 victory at Phoenix. Dirk Nowitzki scored 35 points and Jason Terry had 30 to pace the Mavericks.

Jerry Stackhouse tallied 23 points for Dallas, which rallied from early nine- point hole and outrebounded the Suns by a 37-25 margin. The Mavericks also shot a strong 54.8 percent from the field.

Dallas will be wrapping up a three-game road trip with tonight’s matchup. The Mavericks return home Tuesday to host Chicago.