Dallas pretty much soured them after that. Welcome to the playoff push.

Another game with a postseason feel.

On a night that saw Utah lose to Atlanta, the Mavericks not only snapped the Blazers 12-straight game win streak at the Rose Garden, but they stayed alive in the playoff picture. They've now beat Portland 18 times in their last 20 meetings.

"We were fortunate to come out of this with a win," Dallas' Rick Carlisle said following the game.

"They won three of the four quarters, so it's not very often you win the game by losing three of the four quarters."

Dallas may have won the game, but it's how Portland lost that is most telling. Turnovers down the stretch (10 total turnovers) hurt the Blazers – particularly when Travis Outlaw got a steal late in the fourth quarter only to have Steve Blake give the ball away seconds later– but Brandon Roy, despite a 23 point outing, didn't play his sharpest game.

Everything was contested as the Mavericks packed the paint. Every shot was forced.

"At times he just missed shots he normally makes. Look, he's a great player and we have a lot of respect for him," Carlisle said of Roy.

It was a night when Roy saw three or four guys around him on every shot.

"He's going to have a game like that," Nate McMillan added. "We need to play well. We were not at our best tonight.

The Mavericks – thanks to performances from Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki - are now the only team out West Portland has not defeated this season.

"They attacked us first. They were the more aggressive team and they deserved to win," admitted Roy.

Portland now waits for the New Jersey Nets to come to the Rose Garden on Friday, while Dallas travels to Golden State. And with about 18 games remaining on the schedule for both teams, each game is another chance to stay in the postseason hunt.

"We always respond the right way, said Dirk Nowitzki.

"It was unbelievable, the atmosphere out there. It was just a fun game to be a part of."

Nicolas Batum suffered a right shoulder strain in the third quarter.

He is listed as probable to return.....

HOOPSWORLD will have an update following the game or earlier, if one becomes available.

Fernandez spoke to the media before Portland hosted Dallas two nights after he was rolled off the court on a stretcher after taking a hard foul from the Los Angeles Lakers Trevor Ariza.

The Blazers rookie guard – who was released from a Portland area hospital yesterday - continues to experience pain on the right side of his body in is still having trouble taking deep breathes.

"It was scary," Fernandez said. "It's good news nothing was broken.

"I feel better. I feel better than Monday. I need rest and I don't know when I will practice."

Right now, Fernandez - still walking gingerly - says he isn't sure when he will return to a game situation either.

"I felt pain," said Fernandez when asked what he thought when he say a replay of the foul. "It was two easy points for me. There was no opportunity to get the ball for a block. I think it is a dirty foul but the decision is for the NBA to not suspend."

For the Blazers without Rudy, tonight is another opportunity for Jerryd Bayless – who has been fighting for some run - to earn some playing time and his keep in the rotation. But even more pressing then Fernandez battling back from injury or Bayless picking up the slack is a chance to own first place in the Northwest Division.

With Utah's loss to Atlanta tonight, the Blazers sit alone at the top – at least for the next couple hours.

Dallas may have something to say about that – a team who is fighting for their playoff life. Never an easy game in this league. The Blazers will easily find that out tonight.