When a teammate goes down with a significant injury, it sends shock waves throughout the roster.
Cut one Maverick, all of them bleed a little.
That’s what it was like with Tim Hardaway Jr. going down Tuesday night at Golden State when he fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. He had to be helped off the court and will be lost for an extended period.
“I talked to him on the plane (from San Francisco to Portland),” coach Jason Kidd said. “He’s disappointed. We all are to lose him to an injury. Talked to him today (before the Blazers game) – ‘is there anything I can do to help?’ He’s up on crutches, but he seems like he’s in a good place (mentally). But we’re going to miss him.”
Players tried their best to rally around Hardaway.
“It’s unfortunate. It’s something that you feel for him,” said Jalen Brunson, who had 20 points and 11 rebounds in Wednesday’s blowout win over Portland. “But he’s going to fight to get back. Everybody is really encouraging to him. We want him back as healthy as he can be, but as quick as possible. He’s a big part of what we do.
“It was really draining last night seeing that. But we kind of turned that page and rallied tonight.”
The Mavericks’ rotation looked a little different, obviously. Reggie Bullock was the first swingman off the bench, followed by Josh Green.
“It’s the next guy’s opportunity,” Kidd said. “We got some guys over there that want to play, so this is a good time for them.”
Uncertainty for All-Star starters: It’s going to be an interesting evening for Luka Dončić on Thursday.
The All-Star starters will be announced in a pregame telecast on TNT and, judging from the last returns in fan balloting, there are no guarantees that the Mavericks’ superstar point guard will be among the Western Conference starters.
Golden State’s Steph Curry was a runaway leader among West guards. Memphis’ Ja Morant was second, followed closely by Dončić.
The fan voting is 50 percent of the equation in determining the All-Star starters. Media members and players account for the other 50 percent equally.
Dončić has been a starter in each of the last two All-Star games, joining an elite class of players who have started twice in the event before turning 23 years old, which he will do in late February.
“In the (fan) voting, I don’t think he can catch Ja,” coach Jason Kidd said. “So I think he’s going to have to talk to you guys and players. That could be tampering, so maybe not players. Maybe media.”
It’s always an honor to be voted in as a starter. But if he isn’t, Dončić is a sure-fire pick when the coaches vote for their All-Star reserves next week.
A day for the NBA to remember: Portland coach Chauncey Billups had a special relationship with Kobe Bryant.
Wednesday was the second anniversary of Bryant’s death in the tragic helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020, which also claimed one of Bryant’s daughters, Gigi.
Billups is one of the few folks who got the best of an in-his-prime Bryant when Billups was the point guard for the 2004 Detroit Pistons, who beat Kobe’s Lakers in the NBA finals.
But that series isn’t what Billups remembers most about Bryant.
“Obviously, today is Kobe day,” the Blazers’ coach said. “I’ve known Kobe, seems like, since he was 16 years old. We go back to battles in high school.
“This is forever going to be a tough day for anybody who knew him, competeted against him. It’s still kind of unreal. And it’s been awhile.”
Billups called Bryant “one of the best competitors I ever played against. He was so good . . . so fierce. That’s the kind of competitor he always was. I miss all that for sure.”
Briefly: In addition to Hardaway, the Mavericks also were without Sterling Brown, who now has missed five games with a sore left ankle . . . The Blazers played without Damian Lillard, who is recovering from abdominal surgery . . . Wednesday’s win at Portland was the fourth time in the last six games that the Mavericks have never trailed . . . The Mavericks return to action Saturday against Indiana, now coached by Rick Carlisle. That game tips off early at 6 p.m.
Twitter: @ESefko
Share and comment