clarinews@clarinet.com (02/04/90)
PORTLAND, Ore. (UPI) -- Buck Williams tied a season high with 24 points and Jerome Kearsey added 23 points as the Portland Trail Blazers walloped the Dallas Mavericks 131-100 Saurday. The Blazers improved to 32-12 and moved within a half game of the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Lakers. Sam Perkins scored 24 points to lead the Mavericks, who dropped to 24-22. The game was close for the first two-and-a-half quarters. Then Portland exploded, especially from the perimeter, and coasted to the easy victory. The Blazers used runs of 15-4 in the third period and 15-6 and 14-2 in the fourth quarter to put the game away. The Blazers had 24 of 38 shots (63 percent) from at least 16 feet. Portland finished the game with an overall mark of 57 percent. All five of Portlands starters scored at least 8 points in the first 24 minutes as the Blazers jumped to a 64-54 halftime lead. Portland connected on 60 percent of their first half shots while Dallas had just 45 percent. But Dallas started the second half with 12-4 run to cut Portland's lead to 68-66. Moments later, Portland regained the momentum with a 15-4 run to put the Blazers up 87-74. Rolando Blackman hit the next two shots to cut Portland's lead to 87-78, but the Mavs could get no closer. Blackman finished the game with 18 points, 10 in the third quarter. Derek Harper added 19 for the Mavs. Clyde Drexler had 18 points for the Blazers. Terry Porter had 17 and Kevin Duckworth added 16. Dallas suffered possibly an even bigger blow than the 31-point loss. A preliminary report indicated that Adrian Dantley fractured his right fibula just 34 seconds into the game. He was immediately taken to a nearby hosptal for x-rays. However, it was not known how long he might be out.