PORTLAND (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Australia need a healthy Pat Mills to make a big impact at this year’s FIBA World Championship in Turkey and the signs are good that that will be the case with the point guard having enjoyed a dream start to the new year.

Mills has fully recovered from the foot injury he suffered last summer and after spending two games in the NBA’s Development League with the Idaho Stampede, averaging 30.0 points and 7.5 assists in 34.0 minutes off the bench, the Portland Trail Blazers have added him to their squad.

He will be with the Trail Blazers for Monday’s clash at the Los Angeles Clippers.

Mills suffered a foot injury last summer that sidelined him for several months but was still selected by the Trail Blazers with the 55th overall in the NBA Draft.

He began practicing in December and wasted no time in showing his potential for the Stampede with a 38-point, 12-assist performance in a January 1 triumph over the Reno Bighorns.

Mills followed that up with 22 points in a one-point victory against the same opponents on Sunday.

In that second game, Mills scored the winning basket with a put-back just 1.2 seconds from the end.

Australia will take on Argentina, Serbia, Germany, Angola and Jordan in Group A of the FIBA World Championship.

FIBA