Dirk Nowitzki scored 33 points and Peja Stojakovic added 21 in his best playoff game in three years as the Dallas Mavericks took a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series with a 101-89 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

Nowitzki again struggled from the field early and shot 9 of 22 but was 15 of 17 from the line. Stojakovic was 8 of 13 - including 5 of 10 3-pointers - in scoring his most in the playoffs since 2008.

Jason Kidd scored 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting for Dallas.

Game 3 is Thursday night in Portland.

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland's steadiest player, had 24 points and 10 rebounds. Gerald Wallace added 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Portland's Andre Miller had 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Wesley Matthews, who saw limited action in Game 1, had 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

The Trail Blazers closed to 78-76 in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks went on a 16-8 run, keyed by two 3-pointers from Stojakovic and three baskets by Nowitzki.

Portland never got closer than eight points in the final three minutes.