"The Mavericks again will be without Peja Stojakovic, who stayed behind as the Mavericks departed for Portland this afternoon. Stojakovic has missed three games with a stiff neck and the Mavericks have no timetable for his return.

In his absence, Shawn Marion has done a superb job starting at small forward.

It'll either be Marion or Dirk Nowitzki trying to slow down Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who has had a fabulous season and should have been an all-star, at least in the eyes of one of the people who was responsible for picking reserves on the Western Conference All-Star team."