Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard (right) fouls Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki during their NBA game in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday. (USA TODAY Sports)

DPA/Los Angeles

The Dallas Mavericks appeared headed for another loss to a Western Conference playoff team when German superstar Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons took them on a delightful detour.  
Nowitzki scored 25 points - including a three-pointer that forced overtime - and Parsons had 10 of his 20 in the extra session as the host Mavericks staged a frenetic comeback to a 111-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.  
Monta Ellis also scored 20 points for Dallas, which never led in the second half but never trailed in the extra session. The Mavericks improved to 5-0 in overtime games this season.  
“This was a game we needed,” Parsons said. “We hadn’t really beaten a top-tier team yet. Portland’s a really good team. We’re just glad we got out of here with a win.”  
“That one’s a tough one to take,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said.  “It was a game we should’ve had. We did a lot of things to give it away.”  
It was the fifth win in six games for the Mavs (35-18), who are fifth in the West but came in just 2-10 against the other top seven teams in the conference. They lost their only previous meeting with the Trail Blazers by 21 points.  
Portland (34-17) held a 16-point lead late in the third quarter and still owned a 94-83 advantage with under three minutes left in regulation. But Devin Harris and Parsons made three-pointers to trigger the comeback.  
Portland’s Damian Lillard made two free throws, but Nowitzki made a jumper and Harris scored again before Nowitzki drilled his tying three-pointer with 20 seconds left. Lillard missed a three-pointer at the regulation buzzer.  
“A lot of things had to go right for us,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “There had to be a lot of belief that we could still win to keep fighting like that, and our guys deserve credit for that.”   
With Dallas riding the momentum, Parsons opened overtime with two free throws and Nowitzki made a jumper before Parsons snared an offensive rebound and fed Ellis for a three-pointer that gave Dallas a 103-96 lead with 2:49 remaining.  
Parsons took over from there, added a driving layup, jumper, two free throws and a tip-in to seal the win.  
“I was more than comfortable doing it (taking over),” said Parsons, who made 7-of-16 shots and grabbed nine rebounds. “I struggled early.  I missed a lot of bunnies, missed some open shots. But I was just glad to come through when my team needed me.”  
Harris scored 16 points and Tyson Chandler added 11 and 13 rebounds for the Mavs, who made 14-of-36 three-pointers.  
Lillard scored 26 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 25 and 14 boards for the Trail Blazers, who were 10-of-32 from the arc and committed 24 turnovers. Portland fell to 3-1 in overtime and has lost seven straight road games.  
“This is as dead of a locker room as I have ever been around and everybody is pretty much (ticked),” said Blazers guard Wesley Matthews, who scored 17 points. “Rightfully so. I mean, we’re just shocked.”   

Elsewhere
Chicago Bulls 107, New Orleans Pelicans 72: Spanish star Pau Gasol had 20 points and 15 rebounds for the visiting Bulls, who stopped a three-game slide. Pelicans All-Star forward Anthony Davis left the game and did not return after landing hard on his right shoulder following an alley-oop dunk.  
Golden State Warriors 106, New York Knicks 92: Stephen Curry scored 22 points and Draymond Green added 20 and 13 rebounds for the visiting Warriors, who have won four of five. All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony was rested by the Knicks, who fell to a league-worst 10-41.  
Washington Wizards 114, Brooklyn Nets 77: John Wall scored 17 points to lead six players in double figures as the host Wizards stopped a season-high five-game losing streak. The Nets had their three-game winning streak stopped.  
Milwaukee Bucks 96, Boston Celtics 93: Brandon Knight scored 26 points for the host Bucks, who won for the sixth time in seven games.  The Celtics saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.  
Philadelphia 76ers 89, Charlotte Hornets 81: Robert Covington scored 22 points as the 76ers won their fourth straight home game. The Hornets had a three-game winning streak snapped.  
Utah Jazz 102, Sacramento Kings 90: Gordon Hayward scored 30 points and Turkey’s Enes Kanter added 17 and 13 boards for the host Jazz, who stopped a three-game skid. DeMarcus Cousins scored 27 points for the Kings, who have lost 11 of 12 and reportedly are pursuing George Karl as their next coach.