DALLAS, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Dirk Nowitzki collected 26 points, 17 rebounds and six steals Monday night as the unbeaten Dallas Mavericks continued the best start in franchise history with an 82-73 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Dallas used offense to win its first six games, averaging 109 points per contest and leading by at least 19 in each one. The Mavericks, however, have maintained they are an improved defensive team this season and proved it against Portland.
Nowitzki was very active on defense and 7-6 center Shawn Bradley had a huge game with 10 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks. The Maverickss won despite shooting a season-low 39.7 percent as they held the Trail Blazers to just 35 percent.
Dallas missed its first eight three-pointers and struggled to get going, falling behind by 13 points midway through the second period. Nowitzki then hit a pair of three-pointers to trigger a 10-0 run as the Mavericks quickly got back into the game, trailing at halftime, 38-34.
Adrian Griffin and Michael Finley opened the second half with baskets, Nowitzki made a pair from the line and Finley hit a long three-pointer as Dallas took the lead for good. Finley added a pair of baskets in the final minute of the quarter as the Mavericks extended to a 62-50 lead.
Rasheed Wallace scored 14 points while hitting just five of 21 shots for Portland, which was held below 80 points for the fourth time in eight games this season. The Blazers were without guard Bonzi Wells, who was serving a one-game suspension for a spitting incident on Saturday at San Antonio.
