GDT 4/6/12: Portland Trail Blazers @ Dallas Mavericks 7:30 central

[mavs777]

Roddy better be careful, Felton may eat him.

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?id=320406006

Even with a new coach, the Portland Trail Blazers are still having trouble gaining momentum in the playoff race. A visit to the Dallas Mavericks might not help.

The Blazers will seek back-to-back wins for the first time in more than two months Friday night in Dallas.

Portland (26-29) is 6-6 since interim coach Kaleb Canales took over for the fired Nate McMillan, and has alternated wins and losses over its last nine games.

"We've got to figure it out," guard Raymond Felton said. " We've got to figure out how to go on a roll for like five games."

The Blazers bounced back from a five-point loss to Utah by pulling away in the fourth quarter Wednesday for a 101-88 victory over visiting New Jersey. After falling behind by three with 6:50 remaining, Portland ended the game on a 19-3 run.

LaMarcus Aldridge topped 20 points for the fourth straight game with a team-best 24, and Nicolas Batum recorded his second straight double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. The win left the Blazers 3 1/2 games behind Houston and Denver, who are tied for the final two playoff positions in the Western Conference.

Portland will continue that push during a two-game trip to Dallas (31-24) and Milwaukee. The Blazers, who haven't won consecutive games since Jan. 23-24, are 7-19 on the road and have lost 23 of 27 all-time at the American Airlines Center, including all three games during last year's playoffs.

Portland fell 97-94 in double overtime during the most recent visit Feb. 11 as the Mavericks' Delonte West scored six of his 10 points to open the second extra session.

Dirk Nowitzki had 20 points to lead five players in double figures and Jason Terry finished with 19. Aldridge had 33 points in his hometown.

The Blazers' big man has averaged 32.0 points and 10.7 rebounds during his team's three-game losing streak in Dallas during the regular season.

The Mavericks will try to extend Portland's struggles at the American Airlines Center while ending their own inconsistent stretch. Dallas has alternated losses and victories in its last four contests.

The Mavericks rebounded from a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the fourth-place team in the West, by topping Memphis 95-85 on Wednesday. The win allowed Dallas to move into a tie with the Grizzlies for fifth in the conference.

Shawn Marion scored 10 of his 16 points during a key 21-4 run in the fourth quarter, while Nowitzki recorded his ninth double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

"It was a good bounce-back (victory) for us," Terry said. "Obviously we're fighting with all these teams for playoff positioning and this was a crucial game for us, as are all of them."

To help themselves in the playoff race, the Mavericks will try to collect two wins over the Blazers over their final 11 games. Dallas visits Portland next Friday as part of a four-game trip.

The Mavericks might have veteran guard Jason Kidd back for that game, but he's expected to miss this one with a strained right groin.

Nowitzki will trying to make up for Kidd's absence by improving on a 26.3-point average over his last 19 games against the Blazers, a stretch in which he's shot 49.1 percent. He averaged 27.3 points while leading Dallas to a six-game victory in last season's playoffs.

With his next 3-pointer, Terry will pass Peja Stojakovic for fifth on the all-time list.

[samoan-maverickII]

Blazers tanking for reals. We tanking for no reason. We got this though.

Final:

Dallas - A lot
Portland - Not so much

[mavs777]

Originally Posted by samoan-maverickII

Blazers tanking for reals. We tanking for no reason. We got this though.

Final:

Dallas - A lot
Portland - Not so much

Blazers aren't good at tanking, they have won a couple of late.

[Kante]

Need this win! And less turnovers please, really frustrating at times.

[GhostFace]

Playing @ Dallas? B!tch please. Leeeeetsss goooooo MAVSSSSSSSSS.

[JeffViggiano]

must win

go mavsssss

[deamon]

Originally Posted by mavs777

Roddy better be careful, Felton may eat him.

True, true, true...
Felton is fat, you never know when he's hungry. Roddy be careful.
Go Mavs!

[4Dirk1Nowitzki]

Lets get the W in regulation this time.

[jleefilled]

Originally Posted by deamon

True, true, true...
Felton is fat, you never know when he's hungry. Roddy be careful.
Go Mavs!

This is discrimination. Now, just because you're a bit on the portly side, doesn't make you a cannibal does it?

[41mvp]

who told Portland is beter than Mavs?
We are the best and we get this f win tonight

[4Dirk1Nowitzki]

no way LA posts up numbers like 14-26 from the field this time around

[b_o_r]

How does one step on a basketball?

[Kante]

Yep, West and Mahinmi maybe out, good lord, does it ever stop?

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said Delonte West stepped on a basketball during Friday morning's shootaround and twisted his ankle, leaving his status for tonight's game against Portland uncertain. Carlisle revealed the news on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM's Galloway & Company.

Also, backup center Ian Mahinmi might be unavailable because his fiance is close to giving birth to their child.

If West is out, the Mavs will be in a pickle at point guard. Jason Kidd remains out with a strained right groin, an injury that will keep him out at least through Saturday's game at Memphis.

It would probably force Rodrigue Beaubois to start with Jason Terry capable of playing point guard as well as little-used second-year guard Dominique Jones.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/maver...i-could-be-out

[EricaLubarsky]

Will we see another lineup with Cardinal playing the 2? Find out during the game

[Kante]

Mahinmi out:

Ian Mahinmi is out tonight for the birth of his child. Delonte West is iffy after stepping on a ball in shootaround and turning an ankle.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Congrats Ian! You deserved it with some solid play lately!

Wow, West stepping on a ball? Roddy with some weight on his shoulders tonight.

[Bayliss]

Good Lord. Seriously. Every frickin' night the Mavs have at least 2 guys of the 10 man rotation out with an injury.

[j0Shi]

Word is West will give it a try. Hopefully it'll turn out OK.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Word is West will give it a try. Hopefully it'll turn out OK.

It's his left ankle and he IS playing tonight, starting.

[Firnen]

great nba.tv leaguepass website is not working... HTTP Status 404 -

[Kante]

Originally Posted by Firnen

great nba.tv leaguepass website is not working... HTTP Status 404 -

Dito, so: http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/1...ilblazers.html

[Kante]

Great block by Haywood after 2 slapstick moves by Carter.

[41N]

dirk is on firrrrrrrrrrrre

[Capt.Obvious]

Dirk is on fire! What does he always say? -When your first shots going in, your confidence raises tremendously. Lockout Trailblazers, here come the Mavs!

[Kante]

Felton can't hit anything the season, but against the Mavs he turns into a NBA-Player...

[41N]

felton is on firrrrrrrrrrre

[41N]

hasheem thabeet
look out for a big game from him

[GhostFace]

Just got home! First day of spring break, time to watch the Mavericks kick butt.

[GhostFace]

Very nice move by Roddy.. but can't miss them FT's. Would love to see Roddy in attack mode against top tier teams..

[Kante]

Roddy really could use a three to go down...

[b_o_r]

roddy's just got to stop taking 3's

[Capt.Obvious]

Dirk 5of5

edit: omg the married to bacon commercial is so stupid..

[GhostFace]

What a block by Wright!

[GhostFace]

HOLY WRIGHT!!!!!

[markus1234]

dunk of the season.

[41N]

OH MY GOD!

[4DN1]

The only bad thing about Wrights dunk was we have to hear Harper say "athaletic" some more

[Kante]

Haywood went all crazy after the dunk from Wright.

On the play where Roddy scored, Dirk had a smaller guard on him and Roddy did not saw that, this is something he has to learn.

[LSMF]

Just tuned in and saw Brandan's dunk :O

[GhostFace]

LOL oops.