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Here's a release from the Portland Trail Blazers with all the relevant information concerning their first round 2011 NBA Playoffs series with the Dallas Mavericks.
TRAIL BLAZERS, MAVERICKS BEGIN FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF SERIES SATURDAY IN DALLAS
PORTLAND, Ore. - The sixth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers will face the third-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series begins at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, with Game 1 Saturday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. (PDT) and Game 2 Tuesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m.
The series will return to the Rose Garden for Game 3 Thursday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Game 4 Saturday, April 23, at 2 p.m.
All games that are not carried exclusively by NBA national broadcast partner ABC will be televised locally by KGW.
All Available Tickets Go On Sale Friday at Noon
A very limited quantity of available tickets for the first two home games go on sale on Friday, April 15, at noon, exclusively on trailblazers.com. Fans who have not previously ordered online are encouraged to set up an account in advance of the on-sale time to expedite the ordering process. At 2 p.m., remaining inventory will be available at all ticket outlets, including the Rose Quarter Box Office.
A maximum of four tickets are available per customer per game, subject to availability. Fans without internet access can call 1-888-716-5510, but are strongly encouraged to order online for the best chance to get tickets.
Game 1 Viewing Party Scheduled
Fans who would like to celebrate the Trail Blazers "Rip City Uprise" are encouraged to attend a Game 1 viewing party at the Rose Garden Saturday evening. A more detailed announcement on that event will be sent Thursday.
Season in Review
The Trail Blazers finished the 2010-11 season as the number six seed in the Western Conference, with a record of 48-34. Portland enters the postseason for the 29th time in their 41-year history.
Portland split the season series with Dallas, 2-2, with the home team winning every game. The teams have met in the NBA Playoffs three previous times - all in the first round. Dallas won 4-3 in 2003, and Portland won 3-0 in 1990 and 3-1 in 1985.
The Trail Blazers enter the playoffs with an all-time postseason record of 95-111. Last season, the sixth-seeded Trail Blazers lost a first round series to the third-seeded Phoenix Suns, 4 games to 2.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter