Dallas Mavericks (19-11) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (10-20)
December 28, 2024 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Portland Trail Blazers +4.5; Over/Under: +224.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers do battle at the Moda Center on Saturday night. Here’s a Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction. This article will include a Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks Pick.
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks have been in decent shape as they’ve won three of their past four games overall and they will be eager to keep it going after outlasting the Suns in a 98-89 road win last night. Kyrie Irving led the team with 20 points and five assists, Daniel Gafford added 16 points while Maxi Kleber and Spencer Dinwiddie scored 15 points each. As a team, the Mavericks shot 43 percent from the field and 12 of 34 from the 3-point line as they played excellent defense to hold the Suns to just 39 points in the first half to lead by 18 points, before they held on for the narrow win despite a cold stretch in the third quarter.
Portland Trail Blazers
Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers have been in poor form as they’ve lost eight of their last 10 games overall, but they will be keen to build some momentum after sneaking past the Jazz in a thrilling 122-120 home win on Thursday. Shaedon Sharpe led the team with 27 points on 11 of 18 shooting, Deni Avdija added 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists off the bench while Deandre Ayton and Scoot Henderson scored 18 points apiece. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot 50 percent from the field and 15 of 38 from the 3-point line as they struggled to keep pace with the Jazz and fell behind by 15 points in the third quarter, before they caught fire and scored 41 points in the fourth quarter to earn the much-needed comeback win at home.
Why the Dallas Mavericks will win
- The Mavericks have won each of their last 11 games as favorites against the Trail Blazers.
- The Trail Blazers have lost each of their last six games against Mavericks teams that held a winning record.
- The favorites have covered the spread in each of the last nine games between the Mavericks and Trail Blazers.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six night games against Mavericks teams that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the last seven night games between the Mavericks and Trail Blazers at Moda Center have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Mavericks’ last five games on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total points line.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction
The Mavericks are still shorthanded with Dereck Lively and Luka Doncic still out, while the Trail Blazers are still keeping eyes on Robert Williams, Dalano Banton and Tounami Camara who are all questionable. The Mavericks are still missing Doncic and they are playing their second game of a back to back set, but they are up against a slumping Trail Blazers squad who were ice-cold before their narrow win over the lowly Jazz in their last outing. The line is short enough for this one, so I will stick with the more reliable Mavericks to continue their strong play with another win and cover here.
