PORTLAND — After a cold, snowy Eastern Conference road trip, the Portland Trail Blazers are starting to get their rhythm back after a brief two-game homestand.
Their homecoming also coincided with the return of Robin Lopez, who missed 23 games with a broken hand. But heading into the weekend, the Blazers once again have their work cut out for them.
Saturday, the Blazers start a Texas-sized back-to-back in Dallas against the Mavericks followed by a Sunday tilt with the Houston Rockets.
The Mavericks are without Rajon Rondo (fractured orbital bone), whom they acquired via trade in December. In the trade they also lost some key bench contributors. But they’ll have a rested Dirk Nowitzki and one of the league’s best offenses.
And the Rockets delivered the Blazers their biggest margin of defeat this season on Dec. 22, when James Harden scored 44.
But Portland’s return home has also seen the return of an effective Nicolas Batum.
Batum has played well in two straight games, but he won’t yet say that things are all good again.
“I have to get another good game against another team like that to be OK,” Batum said. “I just try to be more aggressive. That’s what I’ve got to do. I’ve got to play that way every night.”
And Batum will have key matchups against Dallas’ Chandler Parsons and Houston’s Trevor Ariza.
Batum’s improved play has been necessary as Damian Lillard continues to struggle with his outside shot.
Lillard has missed 17 consecutive 3-point shots and is shooting 21 percent from long range over the past 12 games. He did find success with midrange jumpers and attacking the basket during the homestand, but he didn’t make a 3-pointer in consecutive games for just the second time in his career.
Terry Stotts said he didn’t feel as though he saw anything different with Lillard’s shot following Thursday’s win.
Reserve center Chris Kaman is listed as questionable with lower back pain after missing Thursday’s win over Phoenix.
Meyers Leonard played 24 minutes and had eight points and eight rebounds backing up both frontcourt spots Thursday.
Stotts’ rotations have been hard to pin down, but Leonard has played in each of the last 15 games. He has already surpassed his season totals from last year in minutes, points and rebounds.
