Mavericks at Trail Blazers
THE STORY: Portland will be without All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge for Thursday's tilt with the Dallas Mavericks. Aldridge will miss the rest of the season after it was revealed he will have season-ending surgery on his right hip. Dallas hopes to take advantage after starting a four-game trip with a 112-103 victory at Golden State on Thursday. Said Aldridge of his upcoming surgery, “It’s smart to do right now because it’s a very small tear right now, but if you play on it, wait, it could become dangerous.”
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (33-26): Dallas not only got a road victory Thursday but a break when Memphis fell to San Antonio. The Mavericks are 1 1/2 games behind the Grizzlies for fifth place in the West. “We've been talking about playoff mode for two-and-a-half weeks. It's a must,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “… It brings you to a higher level and we embrace it. We embraced it last year in the playoffs and it got us a ring.”
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (28-31): Portland will have to contemplate the future in its final seven games after a disappointing season that saw virtually its entire starting lineup either traded or have season-ending injuries and its coach fired. The Blazers will finish the season with the 12 healthy players they have remaining. Interim GM Chad Buchanan said there are no plans to add any players for the final seven games. The Trail Blazers have won five of the last regular-season games with Dallas.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. J.J. Hickson, who has averaged 26 points on 63.9 percent shooting and 13 rebounds in two starts, will start for Aldridge.
2. Both games this season have gone to overtime, with the teams splitting. Portland is 6-1 all-time in overtime games against Dallas
3. The Mavericks are 5-0 when reaching at least 30 assists.