DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks got their five-game home stand off to a good start Wednesday night by posting a 105-99 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at American Airlines Center.
The Mavs are now 21-28 and will host the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
With the win, coach Rick Carlisle became the fifth active coach in NBA history to win at least 500 games.
Vince Carter drained an 18-footer with 26.9 seconds left to give the Mavs a 99-94 lead and some much-needed breathing room, and the Mavs coasted from there.
OJ Mayo led the Mavs with 28 points, Carter scored 17, Dirk Nowitzki tallied 16, and Shawn Marion had 13 points and 10 rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 27 points and nine rebounds.
Portland led 61-57 at the half, but the Mavs held the Blazers to just 38 points in the second half.
Carlisle has a 500-353 won-loss record during 11 seasons coaching with Detroit, Indiana and the Mavs. Before the game Carlisle was asked what he learned during that time about keeping tabs with his number of coaching victories?
“Not to count,’’ Carlisle said. “It’s day-to-day and I don’t keep track of any of that stuff.
“If you do you’re getting distracted from your job. And this year is not the time to get distracted from anything.’’
The only active coaches ahead of Carlisle with 500 or more victories are Denver’s George Karl (1,105), Minnesota’s Rick Adelman (989), San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich (885) and Boston’s Doc Rivers (570).
-- Dwain Price
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