Trail Blazers hopeful Lillard can play against Raptors

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Two of the premier backcourts in the NBA take center stage Monday night when the Portland Trail Blazers host the Toronto Raptors at Moda Center.

That is, if Damian Lillard can answer the bell.

The Trail Blazers' All-Star point guard rolled his ankle late in Friday night's 110-90 loss to San Antonio and was limping in the locker room afterward.

"I went up for a rebound and landed on somebody's foot," Lillard told reporters. "I (stayed) in the game because I wanted to test it, but it hurt. I went out there for a few possessions, and it didn't make sense to be out there. It was uncomfortable."

Lillard said he is hopeful not to miss any action.

"I rolled it good. I know that for a fact," he said. "But I'll do everything I can to be ready for the next one."

If Lillard can play, Monday's game features four of the top 23 scorers in the league through Friday's games.

Toronto's DeMar DeRozan ranked fourth at 27.8 points per game. Lillard was tied for sixth at 27.0. Portland's CJ McCollum was tied for 20th at 22.0 and Toronto's Kyle Lowry 23rd at 21.8.

Lowry is coming off one of his best performances of the season -- and a gutsy one at that. In a 104-98 victory at Utah on Friday night, Lowry received two stitches on a cut lip, an injury that caused him to miss most of the third quarter. He came back to hit 9 of 10 shots and score 19 of his season-high 36 points in the fourth quarter as the Raptors (21-8) secured their third straight victory and their sixth consecutive win on the road.

"That's a performance that will be remembered," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said of Lowry's heroics.

"I do whatever it takes to help my team win," Lowry told reporters afterward. (Grabbing) loose balls, (sinking) open shots. We all do it and we do it together. That's what it's all about."

Toronto has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference thanks in no small part to its backcourt.

"DeMar is on that elite level, and he's still gaining confidence," teammate DeMarre Carroll said. "He is just getting into his prime, and Kyle is playing at a great rate."

Portland (13-19) is stuck in a rut. The Blazers dropped five straight and nine of their last 10.

"It weighs on you, when you try so hard and you want to do the right thing, you want to win," Lillard said. "You get asked so many times, 'What's the problem?' And you're trying to figure it out, also."

The Blazers are hopeful to regain the services of reserve forward Evan Turner, who missed the last three games with a sprained ankle.

Portland won 12 of its last 15 meetings with Toronto, but the Raptors swept both games from the Blazers last season, the first time that has happened since the 1996-97 season.