 led by as many as 25, and Lillard hit six of the team's 16 3-pointers.Luka Doncic had 24 points for the Mavericks, who have lost nine of 10 and sit in second-to-last place in the West, ahead of the Phoenix Suns.The Trail Blazers are fourth in the Western Conference standings, a half-game back of Houston and in front of a cluster that includes the Spurs, Thunder, Jazz and Clippers.Portland rested Lillard in the fourth quarter. Enes Kanter had 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for his first double-double since joining the Blazers just before the All-Star break.Portland was coming off a 106-98 victory at home over Indiana on Monday. That was the team's first game without starting guard CJ McCollum, who strained his left knee last weekend. McCollum will be re-evaluated next week, and no timetable has been set for his return.The Blazers started Jake Layman for the second straight game in McCollum's place against the Mavericks. Layman also started against the Pacers, but coach Terry Stotts said the rotation going forward would be fluid.Lillard had 10 points and four assists as Portland took a 26-17 lead to close the first quarter. It was the lowest first-quarter point total for the Mavs this season.The Blazers led by as many as 13 in the first half, but Doncic hit a floater and a pair of free throws to put the Mavericks up 39-38.The threat didn't last long and Portland pulled in front 58-52 on Jusuf Nurkic's dunk. Maurice Harkless closed out the half with another dunk to give the Blazers a 65-52 lead at the break.Portland stretched the lead to 79-66 after Lillard's 3-pointer. Another 3 put the Blazers up 87-69, and Dallas never threatened again.The Mavericks (28-43) have lost eight straight on the road.TIP-INSMavericks: Stotts said he expects Doncic to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, told of the prediction, joked: ''Boy, he's really putting himself out there.'' Trail Blazers: It was Lillard's third double-double in his last five games. ... The Blazers split the season series with the Mavericks 2-2.HONORING DIRKDirk Nowitzki passed Wilt Chamberlain for sixth on the NBA's career scoring list in the Mavericks' 129-125 overtime loss to New Orleans on Monday. The 40-year-old is likely playing his final season. The crowd at the Moda Center chanted ''We want Dirk'' in the last two minutes but he did not play the final quarter.''It's hard to put into words, especially to people of my generation. Wilt was untouchable. And for someone to be in that context, it's hard to fathom,'' Stotts said. ''I think the way he's done it, being the type of player that he is, he's certainly not the type of player he just passed or the players in front of him. He did it his way, his own style, that I don't think anyone could have foreseen 20 years ago.'' UP NEXTMavericks: At the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.Trail Blazers: Host the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.---More NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Mar 19, 2019The Trail Blazers know who will be the target of their defensive focus when they play host to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.Portland forward Al-Farouq Aminu calls the Mavericks' Luka Doncic the "front-runner for Rookie of the Year," but it's beyond that. The 20-year-old Slovenian is a lock to win the NBA's rookie award as he leads the league's first-year players in scoring (21.0) and is second in rebounds (7.5) and assists (5.8).The 6-foot-7 Doncic has averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in three games against the Blazers this season, helping the Mavericks to two wins."He has played really well against us," said Aminu, who is likely to draw the first defensive assignment on Doncic. "He's crafty. The European-style game has served him well. He was able to come in and transition seamlessly to the NBA."We've done a pretty good job on him (defensively) each time we played them, but he's still gotten his numbers." The Mavericks (28-42) beat the Blazers 111-102 in Dallas on Dec. 4, with Doncic going for 21 points and nine rebounds and sinking a crucial baseline jumper in the final minute to clinch the win. The Blazers pulled out a 121-118 victory in overtime in Portland on Dec 23, a game in which Damian Lillard had 33 points and seven assists but Doncic also contributed 23 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.In the last meeting on Feb. 10 in Dallas, Doncic collected 28 points, nine boards and six assists, and the Mavericks outscored the Blazers 24-9 in the fourth quarter of a 102-101 Dallas triumph."They've given us trouble this season," Lillard said. "We're going to have our hands full." Doncic had his fifth triple-double of the campaign in a 129-125 overtime loss to New Orleans on Monday with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists."He continues to play like a seasoned veteran, and an All-Star at that," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.The Blazers (43-27) will be playing their second game without starting shooting guard CJ McCollum, who strained his left knee in a loss at San Antonio on Saturday. McCollum's knee will be re-evaluated in a week."I'll take it day to day, do rehab and do what (medical staffers) tell me to do," McCollum said. "I don't have a timeline I'm going to give (the media). Hopefully I can be back sooner than later. My goal is to come back when I'm healthy."I don't like to miss games, but I have to do what's best for my health. Doctors will sign off when I'm ready." Jake Layman started at shooting guard in a 106-98 win over Indiana on Monday, but Portland coach Terry Stotts said he will rely on feel and matchups in determining who gets additional playing time in McCollum's absence."That's 34 minutes a game to be spread around," Stotts said. "I would expect the minutes of Seth (Curry), Jake and Rodney (Hood) to be up a little bit." --Field Level Media
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