DPA
Portland is known as Rip City in NBA circles and LaMarcus Aldridge tore the heart out of the Dallas Mavericks.
Aldridge drilled the tying three-pointer in the closing seconds and the game-winning jumper at the buzzer, sending the Trail Blazers to a thrilling 106-104 come-from-behind victory over the visiting Mavericks on Tuesday night.
"This is what you live for," said Aldridge of the game-winning 10-foot fade-away jumper.
"I was surprised because I caught it so deep and I just turned."
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Aldridge finished with 29 points and 13 rebounds, J.J. Hickson had a season-high 26 points with 15 boards for Portland, which rallied from 21 down in the third quarter for its third win in the last four games.
"Just another win," said Blazers coach Terry Stotts with a laugh.
"I can't get tired of appreciating what our team does as far as competing, fighting and never giving up. We've seen it a number of times before this season but it never gets old."
Dirk Nowitzki appeared to be the hero when the German star nailed a triple, giving Dallas a 104-101 lead with 11.4 seconds remaining.
However, Aldridge countered by connecting on his first three of the season, squaring the contest with 4.5 ticks to go.
The Mavericks coughed up the ball when O.J. Mayo was whistled for an offensive foul, setting up Aldridge's heroics.
Following a timeout, Aldridge got the ball on the left side and the two-time All-Star big man buried the difference-maker as time expired and was immediately mobbed by teammates.
"He was smiling like a rookie," Blazers forward Nicolas Batum said of Aldridge in the locker room.
"We needed those two shots - they show people that he really is an All-Star. He is a go-to guy, he's one of the best."
Elsewhere, the LA Lakers secured a third straight win by beating New Orleans 111-106, with Dwight Howard scoring 24 points.
Golden State Warriors were too good for Cleveland 108-95 and Milwaukee Bucks defeated Detroit 117-90.
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