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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Deron Williams had a season-high 30 points and the Mavericks defeated the Trail Blazers 115-112 in overtime Tuesday night in Wesley Matthews’ first trip back to Portland since signing with Dallas as a free agent.

Dirk Nowitzki added 28 points and Matthews finished with 18 points in his return as the Mavs snapped a four-game losing streak on the road.

Matthews hit consecutive 3-pointers to pull the Mavericks to 89-85 as Dallas closed in on Portland in regulation. Nowitzki’s 3-pointer narrowed it to 96-94 before his tip shot tied it, and Damian Lillard missed a 3 at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

The Mavs outscored the Blazers 9-3 to open the extra period, taking a 103-99 lead on Nowitzki’s long jumper with 1:20 left. Lillard’s layup got Portland to 108-103, but ultimately the Blazers couldn’t catch up.

Lillard finished with 25 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Meyers Leonard had 23 points and Portland’s bench outscored the Dallas reserves 73-16

Both teams were playing the second game of a back-to-back. Portland lost 102-87 at the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, and the Mavericks were beaten 112-98 in Sacramento.

Matthews was a fan favorite during his five years in Portland and was rewarded with a standing ovation from the crowd when he was introduced before the game.

Last spring, the Blazers were in the midst of a five-game winning streak on the way to the playoffs when Matthews tore his Achilles during a game against the Mavericks.

Portland went on to lose to Memphis in the first round, and four starters from that team — Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez and LaMarcus Aldridge — all left in the offseason. A free agent, Matthews signed a four-year, $70 million deal with the Mavericks.

Lillard is the only starter remaining with the Blazers, who got off to a slow start on Tuesday, falling behind 20-5 in the opening quarter. Lillard played only about 16 minutes on Monday night against the Clippers because of a stomach virus.

Matthews’ 3-pointer stretched the Mavericks’ lead to 27-18 at the end of the opening quarter. Portland responded with a 9-2 run to close to 29-27 in the second, but couldn’t sustain the rally and Dallas went up 44-32 on Charlie Villanueva’s 3-pointer.

The Blazers came back again to tie it at 48 on CJ McCollum’s 3-pointer, and Portland finally pulled ahead on Gerald Henderson’s corner 3 to beat the buzzer.

Portland stretched the lead to 63-52 on Leonard’s short jumper, but Nowitzki hit a jumper that gave Dallas a 74-71 lead as the third quarter drew to a close.

Portland took an 87-79 lead on Lillard’s left-handed layup with 6:17 left.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Zaza Pachulia has 12 double-doubles this season. … Dallas was without J.J. Barea for a third game because of a sprained right ankle. … It was the first overtime game of the season for the Mavs.

Trail Blazers: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver attended the game. … Allen Crabbe has made a 3-pointer in 10 straight games, the longest such streak for a Blazers player this season.

UP NEXT

The Mavericks host Houston on Friday.

The Trail Blazers host Indiana on Thursday.

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from Business Insider http://ift.tt/1Xx3Qkx