Shootaround report: Kaman reevaluated after bump to head, status unknown

(Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Earl K. Sneed reports from the Dallas Mavericks' Tuesday morning shootaround in Portland, where the team may be without center Chris Kaman after the 7-footer was reevaluated following a bump to the head.

Shootaround report: Mavericks (19-25) at Trail Blazers (22-22)
Kaman reevaluated after bump to head, status unknown

PORTLAND, Ore. — There could be a 7-foot void missing from action for the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night as they try to begin their four-game road trip with a win in Portland.

After bumping his head in the team’s Monday practice before leaving Dallas, center Chris Kaman was held out of the Mavericks’ Tuesday morning shootaround while being reevaluated. His status for Tuesday night’s contest against the Trail Blazers is uncertain until test results return.

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“He bumped his head in practice yesterday, so he’s being reevaluated today. We’ll have more information tonight,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle simply said in regard to Kaman’s availability.

In the last two games, Kaman has lost his starting position and totaled just 14 points and eight rebounds combined in just 33 minutes of work. Still, against a Blazers team that plays its starters more than any other in the league, the Mavs admit they’ll need every contributor off the bench in order to utilize their depth in a hostile environment.

Portland’s bench averages the fewest points in the league at just 16.5 points per game. Vice versa, the Mavs’ reserves posted 56 points in Dallas’ 110-95 victory at home over Phoenix on Sunday and will be looking for similar success two nights later, ranking third overall in the league while putting up 40.4 points a game as a unit together.

“Well, we’ll see,” backup big man Elton Brand said. “It’s a game-by-game situation. I’m superstitious like that. I don’t want to say an opponent doesn’t have depth and then the bench scores the most they’ve scored in the season or something. But we know their starters get heavy minutes, so when we get in there, we need to bring energy and attack them.”

Note: The Mavericks head back out on the road for the beginning of a four-game road trip, touching down in Portland first for Tuesday night’s battle against the Trail Blazers. The Mavericks lead the season series 1-0 after handing the Blazers a 114-91 thumping in Dallas back on Nov. 5. The game will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 9 p.m. CT.