Recap: Lillard Goes Off as Blazers Hold Off Mavericks, 126-118

As the playoffs approach, the superstar guard for the Portland Trail Blazers is shifting into a higher gear.

Damian Lillard had 33 points and 12 assists, Seth Curry added 20 points, and the Portland Trail Blazers rolled over the visiting Dallas Mavericks, 126-118 Wednesday night.

Luka Doncic had 24 points for Dallas, who fell for the eighth time in nine games. In what is likely his last trip to the Rose City, Dirk Nowitzki had three points in 14 minutes. With the game out of reach late, the crowd implored Dallas to put Nowitzki back in one more time so they could say goodbye to the future Hall-of-Famer.

Here are tonight’s takeaways:

• Lillard could not be contained. Damian Lillard had his third straight 30-point game, as well as second straight 10-assist contest. He scored all 33 of his points through the first three quarters, including a 16 point outburst in the third quarter.
• Squad came to play. Five other Blazers scored in double-figures. The bench added 47 points, with Seth Curry and Enes Kanter each topping 14 points. As a team Portland shot 49.5% from the field.
• Blazers utilizing the glass. Portland outrebounded Dallas 48-33, and grabbed 12 offensive rebounds. Both Kanter and Jusuf Nurkic had double-figure rebound numbers. Between the Blazers shots not missing and Nurkic devouring the misses, the Mavericks had no chance.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Portland hosts the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

BOX SCORE