Team lacks finishing kick

All season long, the Trail Blazers have had trouble closing out close games.

That was the case again Saturday night at the American Airlines Center as Portland fell 97-94 to the Mavericks in double overtime.

The Blazers (15-13) are 1-9 in games decided by six points or fewer. After beating Philadelphia 107-103 in the season opener, Portland has lost nine straight contests with the margin inside six points and is now 4-10 on the road.

A continuing problem has been slow starts. At Dallas, the Blazers rallied from an 18-point second-quarter deficit and had chances to win down the stretch despite shooting .371 -- including 3-for-20 on 3-point tries -- and dishing out a season-low 11 assists in 58 minutes.

"Our guys fought to get themselves back into the game and to give ourselves a chance to win," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "We just have to make breaks for ourselves.

"We had opportunities -- and we've had them all season long -- where you have to make plays, you have to make shots, you have to get stops. Tonight we didn't make shots when we had the opportunity."

Portland figures to get back on the right track Tuesday night when it plays host to Washington (5-22) at the Rose Garden. The Wizards are 1-10 on the road; the Blazers are 11-3 at home, though they have lost their last two -- against Oklahoma City and Houston.

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