The verbal jabbing of Phil Jackson and the mind games with Ron Artest will begin soon enough.

First, Mark Cuban wanted a day to celebrate his Dallas Mavericks making it to the second round to face the Los Angeles Lakers.

Dirk Nowitzki had 33 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Mavs to a 103-96 win over Portland in Game 6 on Thursday night.
 

The Mavs won a playoff series for only the second time since reaching the 2006 NBA finals, and it wasn't easy.

A colossal collapse at the end of Game 4 in Portland forced a return trip for Game 6, and Dallas almost blew it again.

But Nowitzki found a way to stave off those pesky Trail Blazers.