Luke Babbitt is stabilizing his NBA career.
The former Nevada Wolf Pack forward has a defined role on the Portland Trail Blazers' bench this season, his third in the NBA. Babbitt established his career high for games played (41) and rebounds (98) during the Blazers' 105-99 loss at Dallas on Wednesday night.
Babbitt played the most minutes off the bench for the Blazers in the loss to the Mavericks with 10:54. He made 1-of-2 3-pointers and scored three points. His 3-pointer gave the Blazers a 23-17 lead with 5:13 to go in the first quarter. His only miss took place with the Blazers trailing 85-84 with 7:31 left in the game.
Babbitt is averaging 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.7 minutes a game this season for the Blazers. Portland, which plays at Houston Friday night, is 25-24 this season but just 8-16 on the road.
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Babbitt has also made 34% of his 3-pointers this season and 35% of his field goals.
His best stretch this season was in the middle of December when he scored in double digits in three consecutive games with 12 points against the San Antonio Spurs (Dec. 13), 10 against the New Orleans Hornets (Dec. 16) and a season-high 14 against the Denver Nuggets (Dec. 20).
Babbitt has made 7-of-14 3-pointers over the last four games after a 10-game stretch during which he made just 8-of-34.
The 23-year-old Babbitt, who had a career-high 18 points against Phoenix last April 16, has played in 105 games during his career and is averaging 3.9 points and .21 rebounds.
