As the NBA playoffs treat us with an impressive slate of entertaining games every single night, us Mavs fans have nothing to enjoy from our team except memories of past playoff success.  This year makes it seven long years since the incredible run by Dirk Nowitzki and company in the spring of 2011.  In order to help the MFFL feel a little more involved in this year’s playoffs, Dallas Sports Fanatic is going to look back on the notable games of the 2011 run to the NBA championship. Next up: Game 6 (You can find Game 5 here).

Mavs close out game 6 on the road

Dallas had only won a single playoff series since they made it to the 2006 Finals. They also struggled on the road in the playoffs, winning only two road games since the trip to the Finals. The Mavericks knew the importance of the game with Dirk Nowitzki acknowledging that game 6 “was [their] game 7.” A close-out win in the other team’s arena could do wonders for the Mavs confidence. Confidence they would need to continue their trip through the Western Conference.

The first quarter started out slow for Dallas and fast for Portland’s Gerald Wallace. Wallace scored 13 of Protland’s 19 points in route to a 19-7 lead with 5 minutes to go in the 1st quarter. The Blazers kept the lead going into the second and held Dirk to only 6 points in the first.

The second quarter looked like it would be similar to the first but Dallas had other plans. Portland built their lead to 31-19 after two quick buckets by Brandon Roy to start the quarter. The Mavs then used a 16-4 run, fueled by Dirk Nowitzki’s 9 points, to tie the game at 35 each. Peja Stojakovic gave the Mavs the lead for the first time in the game with a 3 pointer off of a pass from JJ Barea. Dallas took a 52-43 game into halftime and never surrendered it.

The Mavs lead by as many as 15 points in the third and held a 13 point lead going into the fourth. Then the Dallas road woes showed up. Portland used the heroics of Gerald Wallace to pull themselves within one point, 86-85, with 5 minutes left to go. It looked like it was going to be another road meltdown, but the Mavericks experience came through in the end. Veterans Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, and Shawn Marion went on a 9-3 run. Dirk Nowitzki went a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line. And the Dallas Mavericks closed out their first playoff series win since defeating the Spurs in 2009.

Nowitzki had 33 points on 11 for 17 shooting (67%) and made all 11 of his free throws. He also notched a double double with 11 rebounds to go along with 4 assists. Gerald Wallace led the Trail Blazers in scoring and set his playoff career high with 32 points on 10 for 17 shooting (58%). Wallace made 11 of 12 free throws and also notched a double double with 12 rebounds.