Mavericks GameDay: Dallas copes with Parsons loss as it heads to Portland

Mavericks at Trail Blazers

9 p.m. Wednesday, Moda Center, Portland, Ore.

TV: FSSW

Radio: ESPN/103.3 FM, ESPN/1540 AM (Sp.)

Records: Mavs 35-35; Blazers 36-35

About the Mavericks: Dallas received devastating news Monday when it learned that small forward Chandler Parsons will have season-ending surgery on his right knee. The Mavs released a statement which said “treatment options are currently being explored.” But star forward Dirk Nowitzki said of Parsons: “He was pretty crushed [Monday] night, obviously, and we’re disappointed for him, but I think he’ll be fine. I think this is a smaller surgery, obviously, than he did last summer.” Parsons had surgery on the same knee May 1. ... The Mavs are one game ahead of Utah for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. ... Dallas opens a four-game road trip that includes visits to Golden State, Sacramento and Denver.

About the Blazers: Portland haslost two games to the Mavs this season in overtime. The Mavs defeated the Blazers 115-112 on Dec. 1 in Portland, and 132-120 on Sunday in Dallas. ... With four new starters, the Blazers weren’t expected to make much noise this season. But they’re currently the No. 6 playoff seed thanks to a young backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum that Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said is a younger version of Golden State’s dynamic duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Lillard averages 25.8 points and 6.9 assists, and McCollum averages 20.9 points and 4.2 assists.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Mavericks GameDay: Dallas copes with Parsons loss as it heads to Portland."