PORTLAND, Ore. - First, the Trail Blazers held LeBron James to just 11 points. Two nights later they held Dirk Nowitzki to 17.And just like that, Portland is pointing to an improved defence for two key wins.The latest was on Thursday night when Portland overwhelmed the Dallas Mavericks with a 35-18 third quarter en route to a 108-87 victory. LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points before sitting down for the entire fourth.Damian Lillard finished with 18 points, including 10 over a stretch of just under six minutes in the fourth before he also took a seat.Portland trailed 50-46 at the half before a decisive 18-4 run in the third quarter.I think the best part about it was that we won on both ends of the floor, Lillard said. We defended really well in the first half, we just couldnt really get ourselves going like we would have liked to offensively. The second half, we put both ends together and thats why we were able to pull away.Dallas went into the game averaging nearly 112 points in their first four games of the season. Nowitzki was averaging nearly 21.But Nowitzki said it was the Mavericks defence that failed them against the Blazers.We couldnt get the stops we needed as the game turned into a walk-up-the-court game and thats not us, he said. Weve got to get stops to get the ball moving.The game was delayed several minutes midway through the fourth quarter when a fan collapsed. The woman was rushed across the court by stretcher as a paramedic performed CPR. She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, but there was no immediate information about her condition.Nicolas Batum had eight points, nine rebounds and nine assists, but he too rested in the fourth quarter after the Blazers had built a sizable lead. Batum has four career triple-doubles.The Trail Blazers were coming off a confidence-boosting 101-82 victory over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers that snapped a brief two-game losing streak. Lillard broke out of a season-opening funk with 27 points, and Portland held James to just 11 points, his lowest total in 115 games.Asked if he thought the teams defence was better this season, Blazers guard Welsey Matthews said: I think it is. And I think it has to be.The Mavericks lost their season opener at San Antonio but went on to win their next three, including a 118-113 victory over Boston on Monday.Weve been doing a lot of good things but our defence has been inconsistent, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. We have to make a stand there. I have to look closely at what were doing and make sure were doing the right things and have the right guys in at the right times. We dont have a lot of time to sit around and mope.It is the first of back-to-back road games for the Mavericks, who visit the Utah Jazz on Friday night.The Mavericks double-teamed Aldridge from the start, but he led all scorers with 10 points in the first quarter.The Blazers pulled ahead 28-24 with 10:10 left in the first half on consecutive 3-pointers from CJ McCollum off the bench. Monta Ellis layup gave Dallas a 35-33 lead.Nowitzki hit a 19-foot-jumper from out front, then added a 3-pointer over Aldridge, and the Mavericks took a 45-38 lead. Nowitzki had 12 points in the second quarter and Dallas was up 50-46 at the half.Robin Lopezs dunk pulled the Blazers within 52-51, and they took the lead on Aldridges fadeaway jumper. Wesley Matthews pumped both fists and yelled after his 3-pointer made it 71-59.But Chandler Parsons, who had scored just two points in the first half, hit consecutive baskets and narrowed it to 71-66.Chris Kamans put-back layup gave the Blazers an 88-70 lead in the fourth quarter as the rout was on. Kaman scored 12 off the bench.___TIP-INSMavericks: Owner Mark Cuban is interviewed in the latest edition of Rolling Stone and reveals his greatest mistake was letting Steve Nash go. He also says that losing hurts far more than winning feels good. ... Nowitzki scored 12 points in the second quarter alone, but the Blazers held him to just two points in the second half. ... Parsons had scored 20 or more points in the past three games; the Blazers held him to 11.Trail Blazers: F Joel Freeland was available after missing the past two games with a left foot sprain. ... Portland had lost seven of the last 10 to Dallas going into the game.THIRD QUARTER WOESNowitzki says hes not sure why the Mavericks have been having trouble coming out after the half. We better figure it out pretty quick. Seems like we dont come out with any energy. Thats really unfortunate, we have got to correct that. Teams are coming out in the second half determined to pick up the pressure and we have not responded.BENCH SCORINGPortlands bench outscored the Mavericks 52-35. The reserves made seven of 12 3-point attempts and shot just over 57 per cent from the field. Thats what we need them to do. You never know when youre going to be called, but you have to be ready. And they were ready, Matthews said.UP NEXTMavericks: At Utah on Friday night.Trail Blazers: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. Cheap MLB Jerseys .com) - The Chicago Cubs reportedly signed recently-acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration. Wholesale Diamondbacks Jerseys . So what happens? Stevenson lands a huge left to Dawsons temple only 76 seconds into the opening round and walks away with the championship belt. "I said Id knock him out," said Stevenson (21-1). http://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.com/.com) - A chant of Zeke reverberated around AT&T Stadium before Ezekiel Elliott powered into the end zone for his fourth and final touchdown. Cheap Curt Schilling Jersey . The R&A announced Monday that golfs oldest championship will return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the first time since Max Faulkner won in 1951. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys . Right-hander Ricky Nolasco and the Twins agreed to terms on a free-agent contract Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.Scott Hartnell of the Columbus Blue Jackets is sporting a great moustache this Movember, but we have to say, it would look a lot better in orange and black. And we would like to inform you this Mo update was taken two weeks ago, so just imagine this moustache now! An #artsy look at Scott Hartnells #Movember progress. #LetsMoJackets #CBJ A photo posted by Columbus Blue Jackets (@bluejacketsnhl) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:13pm PST Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkins mustache is in fine form and would surely make Mother Russia proud. WATCH: #Caps captain Alex Ovechkin says he is good to go for tonights game vs NYI. #CapsIsles http://t.co/Dg2sXtsOQs pic.twitter.com/z96TBsVNi5 — Washington Capitals (@washcaps) November 26, 2014Toronto Maple Leafs Leo Komarov is going with the handlebar this year, and we fully support his decision. The #Leafs are 6-0-0 all-time when Leo Komarov scores. #TMLtalk #UncleLeo A photo posted by Toronto MapleLeafs (@torontomapleleafs) on Nov 11, 2014 at 11:21am PST Komarovs moustache reminds Kessel of a certain character in The Walking Dead. Komarovs moustache reminds Kessel of Michael Cudlitz character on Walking Dead: "Its pretty brutal. He looks about 55-yrs-old right now." — Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 28, 2014 Kessels Komarov komparison pic.twitter.com/YYJ4XjAa1w — Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 28, 2014Canadiens goaltender Carey Price wants to fit in with the people of Montreal so much that hes mastered the French moustache so well it rivals the stache Jean Dujardin (trust us, hes French) had in The Artist. "Cest facile de se motiver après un match comme ça."/"Its easy to get motivated after a game like that." - Carey Price A photo posted by Canadiens de Montréal (@canadiensmtl) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:58am PST Ryan Miller of the Vancouver Canucks is also sporting a great moustache this year. The #Canucks are taking on the Montreal Canadiens in a @Movember battle (that the Habs are winning...). Check out Canucks.com/mocanucks to support the Canucks! A photo posted by Vancouver Canucks (@canucks) on Nov 11, 20114 at 3:22pm PST Ottawa Senators defenceman Chris Phillips has a pretty nice duster as well.dddddddddddd Warm-up Pic: Chris Phillips - Leads all #Sens in moustache growth. #Movember A photo posted by Ottawa Senators (@nhlsenators) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:04pm PST And finally, to round off the greatest moustaches this Movember comes the team effort of the Detroit Red Wings. Riley Sheahan, Luke Glendening and Gus Nyquist are all rocking great staches with Henrik Zetterbergs always amazing beard. More from the Childrens Hospital Visit. Riley Sheahan, Luke Glendening, Gus Nyquist, Henrik Zetterberg, and Coach Babcock pose with a young #RedWings fan and his mother. #IMTH A photo posted by Detroit Red Wings Hockey Club (@detroitredwings) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:02pm PST Now for the "thanks for coming out," moustache growth choices... Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins may be the best player on the ice, but his facial hair game has always been pretty weak. Sidney Crosby talks about one of Fleurys most recent (and exciting) wins, the shootout victory over the Rangers. A video posted by Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:06pm PST And we dont want to be too negative, but Jamie Benn looks more like a hipster than a hockey player with his stache, so were nominating the Dallas Stars captain for the worst moustache of the month as well. #StopDropSelfie @koryc7 @bcrossss @taylorjsummer your up! Thanks @lawtoncourtnall #MS #Muzz #GoggsOnFullForce A photo posted by Jamie Benn (@jamiebenn14) on Nov 11, 2014 at 12:21pm PST Even some of our TSN personalities are growing their Mos this month, including Jeff ONeill. Here are the boys of Leafs Lunch in their ugly Christmas sweaters! Boys are getting festive & wearing these bad boys on game days throughout the holiday season #uglyxmassweater pic.twitter.com/Oyatdjc8VI — Leafs Lunch 1050 (@LeafsLunch1050) November 27, 2014We love this years Movember monstrosities almost as much as the classic hockey moustaches of the past... almost as much. Hats off to every hockey player who grew their moustache and helped raise money for a great cause! 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