MAVERICKS (21-19) AT PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (25-16)
Time: 9 p.m.
Place: Moda Center, Portland
TV: FSSW
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavericks: In Friday’s game at Portland, the Mavs couldn’t take advantage of another terrific performance from point guard Luka Doncic. The third-year veteran was sensational as he finished with 38 points, nine rebounds and nine assists while going 15-of-27 from the field. Overall, Doncic is averaging 28.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 9.3 apg, Kristaps Porzingis averages 20 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 1.6 bpg, and Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 16.5 ppg. . .This is the second of a three-game road trip for the Mavs, who will play in Minnesota on Wednesday, return home to host the Indiana Pacers on Friday, and then head right back out for a five-game trip that starts Saturday in New Orleans. That trip also includes games on March 29 at Oklahoma City, March 31 at Boston, April 2 at New York and April 3 at Washington. In fact, nine of the Mavs’ next 11 games are away from American Airlines Center. The only home games during that period are Friday against the Pacers and April 5 against the Utah Jazz. . .Starting forward Dorian Finney-Smith will be back in the lineup after missing the previous two games due to the birth of his son. . .The Mavs have won 12 of their last 17 games.
About the Trail Blazers: Behind 32 points from C. J. McCollum and 31 from Damian Lillard, the Blazers rallied to beat the Mavs on Friday, 125-119, after outscoring Dallas, 32-21, in the fourth quarter. . .This is the fourth of a five-game home stand for the Blazers. Portland is 3-0 on this home stand following wins over New Orleans this past Tuesday (125-124) and Thursday (101-93), along with Friday’s victory over the Mavs. The home stand concludes with Tuesday’s game against Brooklyn before Portland starts a four-game road trip Thursday in Miami. That trip will also includes games on Friday at Orlando, March 28 at Toronto and March 31 at Detroit. . .Lillard is averaging 30.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 7.7 apg, and McCollum averages 25 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 4.6 apg, and Enes Kanter is averaging 12.1 ppg and 11.6 rpg. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said of Lillard: “He’s one of the best players in the game — there’s no question about. I haven’t coached him, but from afar he is a guy that must work extremely hard on his game to be that precise with his shooting and to be able to execute in such long distance and under such great pressure.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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