Dallas (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki's return to the Dallas lineup after missing a game and a half with a deep right elbow gash was spoiled by the Portland Trail Blazers, who rallied to beat the Mavericks 85-81.

Travis Roy scored 23 points while LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points and 12 rebounds to spark the Trail Blazers on a crucial 17-3 run in the fourth quarter, which began with Dallas owning a 70-64 lead.

German star Nowitzki, the Mavericks' leading point producer, scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds with a bandaged and paded elbow.

Nowitzki was injured Friday when he collided with Houston's Carl Landry in the second quarter of an over-time loss to the Rockets. Two of Landry's teeth were in the wound, which kept Nowitzki out of the second half as well as a 102-95 triumph Sunday over Cleveland.

Nowitzki sank a 3-pointer with 76 seconds remaining to pull Dallas within 83-81 but he missed an 18-footer for the equalizer with 40 seconds to go and Andre Miller sank two free throws with 6.5 seconds to play for the final margin.

J.J. Barea added 22 points for the Mavericks who had won six of their prior seven games.

Spoiling the victory for Portland was the loss of Joel Przybilla, who suffered a ruptured right patella tendon and dislocated patella 8:48 into the game after landing awkwardly after leaping for a rebounds.

There is no timetable for Przybilla's return.