Aldridge has 20 points and 10 rebounds in Portland’s 101-89 victory over the Mavericks

By Anne M. Peterson, AP
Friday, March 26, 2010

Aldridge has 20 points in 101-89 win over Mavs

PORTLAND, Ore. — LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Dallas Mavericks for the third time this season, 101-89 on Thursday night.

Marcus Camby added 17 points and 11 rebounds for Portland, which won the season series from the Mavericks for the first time since the 1998-99 season.

Portland has won five straight at home and six of its last seven games overall.

Caron Butler had 25 points for Dallas, which has lost four of its last five games after a 13-game winning streak.

Shawn Marion’s short jumper pulled the Mavs within 82-80 early in the fourth, but Portland wouldn’t let them get any closer.

The Blazers stretched their lead to 93-82 after Rudy Fernandez’s 3-pointer and Andre Miller’s pull-up jumper, then held a comfortable margin the rest of the way.

The Mavericks lost the first two games against the Blazers in the season series — both in Dallas. Andre Miller scored a career-high 52 points against the Mavs in a 114-112 overtime victory on Jan. 30.

Miller had 19 points and 10 assists on Thursday.

The Blazers, coming off a 93-87 loss at Phoenix that snapped a five-game winning streak, led by as many as nine in the first quarter.

Reserve guard Jerryd Bayless scored on a fast break to put Portland ahead 32-27 at the end of the first period, then added a driving layup to open the second.

Jose Barea’s bank shot narrowed it to 38-37, but Dallas could not pull ahead.

Brandon Roy’s 17-foot jumper gave the Blazers a 55-46 lead late in the first half. There was some tension before the break, when Butler drew a technical for taunting.

The Blazers led 60-54 at halftime, but Dallas pulled within 60-58 early in the third quarter on Dirk Nowitzki’s turnaround jumper before tying it with Butler’s dunk.

Portland went back up with consecutive baskets from Camby that touched off 13-0 Portland run.

Notes: Fernandez missed the game against the Suns with a left quadriceps strain. … As rumors continued to swirl surrounding the future of Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard, team owner Paul Allen issued a statement that affirmed his support of him. The statement did, however, say that when the season ends “we will evaluate how best to move the Trail Blazers forward.” One fan held a sign of support that read “Don’t Ditch Pritch.” Pritchard is highly regarded in Portland as having rescued the team from its “Jail Blazers” reputation.

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