Video Recap: CJ McCollum Burns Mavericks, Blazers Win 114-113

What a finish. CJ McCollum gave the Blazers the late lead, only for Dirk Nowitzki to turn back time and swish a three-pointer with three seconds left. But CJ had the last word, sinking the game winner in the last second, sending the Portland Trail Blazers to a 114-113 win over a hungry Dallas Mavericks squad Tuesday night.

The match-up concluded the potentially playoff implicating season series with the Mavs, which is now tied 2-2.

Perhaps undermining the win, Evan Turner exited the game during the third quarter with what would later be revealed as a right hand fracture and did not return. The recovery time could mean his season is over. More details for the injury can be found here.

Box Score

First Half

The Blazers clearly came out with a chip on their shoulder from Friday’s home loss and played like it in the first half tonight. After conceding the first three points of the contest, Portland seized an early lead and didn’t let go.

Damian Lillard much got the better of the newcomer Yogi Ferrell, who on Friday torched the Blazers for 32 points, but was held to just a lone three through two quarters versus Lillard’s 22 .

Portland Trail Blazers 64, Dallas Mavericks 53

Second Half

The double-digit lead didn’t last for long, as Dallas fought back quickly coming out of the locker room to pull within just three on Wesley Matthews’ jumper only five minutes into the period.

But this time it would be C.J. McCollum to answer the call for Portland, scoring nine points in the third quarter when the Blazers struggled to get much going, and looked good doing it:

But then...

With Turner gone, Portland managed to rebuild as large as a 12-point lead with just over seven minutes to go in the final frame, but the Mavs answered right back with a 13-0 run capped by none other than Ferrell. The undrafted thorn in the Blazers’ side nailed an and-1 jumper near the top of the key, which briefly gave Dallas a one-point lead 102-101 with 4:15 remaining before Lillard ended the drought with a long two from the right wing.

The closing minutes were Pong levels of back and forth, with eight go-ahead baskets in just the final two minutes, but it would be McCollum who would deliver the final blow. The crafty marksman was forced to put it on the floor, found a way to squirrel into the key and nailed a lethal 10-foot floater with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock the seal the victory. C.J. had the final seven points for Portland and finished with a game-high 32.

What’s Next

This ends a short two-game road trip for the Blazers, who will return home to the Moda Center Thursday to take on the Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m. in a nationally televised contest on TNT.

-- Ryan Rosback | ripcity.rosback@gmail.com | Twitter