Mavericks at Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard looks to follow up his top assist output of the season when the Portland Trail Blazers host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. Lillard posted 15 assists - one shy of his career high - along with 30 points as the Trail Blazers registered a 106-98 home win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
Portland won four of its past five games to move into fourth place in the tightly packed Western Conference and Lillard says he will continue to carry more of the load while sidekick CJ McCollum (knee) is sidelined. "I guess being a little more hands-on and managing what's going on out there, just knowing that a guy who averages (21.3) points isn't on the floor," Lillard told reporters of how he will deal with McCollum's expected to be brief absence. "It doesn't mean I have to score more points, or dominate the ball, but just making sure that I've got control over what's happening out there a little bit more." Dallas is sliding fast in the wrong direction and Monday's 129-125 overtime loss to the visiting New Orleans Pelicans was its 13th in the past 15 games. The Mavericks are just 6-28 on the road and have lost their past seven as they begin a stretch in which five of six games are on the road.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), NBCS Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS (28-42): Veteran forward Dirk Nowitzki (31,424 points) is now the sixth-leading scorer in NBA history after passing legendary Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) during the loss to the Pelicans. "Anytime you beat some of those legends up there, it's incredible," Nowitzki told reporters. "Wilt, in his era, was the most dominant player this league has ever seen. Nobody's scored 100 (except Chamberlain). It's surreal at times to be up there with some of these names. He dominated his era like nobody else." Nowitzki is averaging just 6.1 points and shooting 35.5 percent from the field in his 21st - and probably last - season.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (43-27): McCollum injured a muscle in his left knee in a hard fall during Saturday's game against the San Antonio Spurs and he will be re-examined in a week. "I don't like to miss games, but I've got to do what's best for myself from a health standpoint," McCollum told reporters before Monday's game, "and doctors will sign off when they think I'm ready." Jake Layman moved into the starting lineup against the Pacers and missed all five of his shots while going scoreless for the third time in the past six games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Mavericks are 2-1 versus the Trail Blazers this season with Portland prevailing 121-118 in overtime on Dec. 23 in the previous meeting played in the Rose City.
2. Portland C Jusuf Nurkic had 18 points and 11 rebounds against Indiana for his fourth straight double-double.
3. Standout Dallas rookie SF Luka Doncic had 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists against New Orleans for his fifth triple-double of the season.