DALLAS — Let’s start with the good news.
CJ McCollum delivered down the stretch for the Portland Trail Blazers as they won a crucial and entertaining game that came down to the final possession.
There bad news is that the Blazers lost a key player while winning a game that might have major playoff implications.
McCollum scored the Blazers last seven points over the final 34 seconds and outdueled Dirk Nowitzki to send the Blazers to a thrilling 114-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night at American Airlines Center.
But before McCollum’s heroics and before there were seven lead changes in the final three minutes the Blazers lost a key piece. Evan Turner suffered a fracture of the third metacarpal in his right hand about four minutes into the third quarter and will likely be sidelined several weeks.
Portland survived without Turner building a double-digit edge with a 13-0 early in the fourth quarter only to have the Mavericks respond with a 13-0 run of their own and take a one-point lead with under two minutes to play.
In the closing minutes, Nowitzki twice hit three-pointers to put the Mavericks up one. The final gave came after McCollum put the Blazers up 112-110. Nowitzki held up three fingers in his signature celebration with 3.4 seconds remaining.
But McCollum had one last answer, splitting a double team and knifing into the lane for a one-handed floater that swished through with 0.3 remaining.
McCollum finished with 32 points, Damian Lillard added 29 and Mason Plumlee added 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Harrisons Barnes had 26 points, Wesley Matthews scored 23 and Nowitzki finished with 25 points for the Mavericks.
Next up
The Blazers head back to Portland for a two-game homestand starting with nationally televised game against the Boston Celtics Thursday on TNT at 7:30 p.m. at the Moda Center.
— Mike Richman
mrichman@oregonian.com
@mikegrich
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