Trail Blazers at Mavericks
Portland and Dallas figure to go with some makeshift lineups when
they finish the regular season with a Wednesday matchup in Texas. Both teams are cemented in their playoff spots and have their fair share
of physical issues to work through before they take on
yet-to-be-determined opponents in the first round.
Already without star forward LaMarcus Aldridge (foot) and shooting guard Arron Afflalo (shoulder), among others, the fourth-seeded Trail Blazers saw three others get hurt in a 101-90 loss at Oklahoma City on Monday, their third straight setback. Forward Nicolas Batum departed in the first quarter with a knee injury, guard C.J. McCollum was knocked out with a sprained ankle and center Chris Kaman departed with a back issue. The Mavericks, who will be the seventh seed in the West, rested starters Monta Ellis, Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler in a 109-92 loss at Utah on Monday. Guard Devin Harris also left the game with a toe injury.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Northwest (Portland), FSN Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (51-30): X-rays on Batum's knee were negative and Portland waits on the condition of others on the sidelines, but it appears as if Aldridge is just about ready to return. The four-time All-Star, who has missed the last two games, reportedly could play limited minutes against Dallas. "I think it is important that if L.A. can play, that he can play, and he has been out for a little bit," head coach Terry Stotts told reporters in Oklahoma City.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (49-32): As Dallas shuffles its lineup in preparation for the postseason, reserve forward Al-Farouq Aminu is serving as one of the few consistent performers. He has scored in double figures in three straight games for the first time since Dec. 2013, posting double-doubles in the last two affairs. Aminu's contributions will be even more important if starting forward Chandler Parsons has any issues coming back from a knee injury that has kept him out of the last five games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Mavericks made a season-low two 3-pointers en route to a season-low 75 points in a loss at Portland on March 5.
2. Portland C Meyers Leonard scored a career-high 24 points in the loss to the Thunder.
3. Dallas has won 24 of the last 30 matchups at home.