DALLAS _ Slow starts have been problematic much of the season for the Mavericks, especially recently.
Friday night against Portland, Dallas jumped out to a 12-point first-quarter lead, stumbled somewhat in the middle two quarters, then allowed the Trail Blazers to pull away early in the final period.
Portland's 107-93 victory at American Airlines Center was the Mavericks' fifth loss in their last six games.
Dallas was within 65-63 after a Wes Matthews layup with 4:41 left in the third quarter. But the Blazers went on a 30-11 run during the last 3:26 of the third quarter and first 5:53 of the fourth quarter to take a 95-74 lead.
Ballgame.
"I just know that our first and third (quarters) were pretty damn good and our second and fourth were really bad," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "It's all about 48. We didn't do it tonight."
Portland's starting backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum outscored Dallas' duo of Matthews and Dennis Smith Jr., 49-30, but on a night when the Blazers shot 49 percent there was plenty of blame to go around for Dallas.
Or maybe it's just that Portland (27-22) is a much better team than Dallas (16-33), as evidenced by its two wins over the Mavericks in the past six days by a combined 23 points.
Lillard, who said he had an upset stomach in the first quarter after eating something bad before the game, scored 14 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter.
"He's just a great player," Smith said. "We stuck to him all night. I believe we were pretty disciplined. He's an All-Star for a reason. It happens."
McCollum finished with 20 points, five assist and four rebounds for the Blazers.
Harrison Barnes led the Mavericks with 21 points. Smith added 18 points and Matthews scored 12.
