The Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers duke it out at the Moda Center on Saturday night. Here’s a Mavericks vs Trail Blazers prediction.

Dallas Mavericks 

The Dallas Mavericks were on a nice run as they had reeled off four straight wins before they got stopped in their tracks by the Timberwolves in a 119-101 loss on Thursday. Luka Doncic led the team with 39 points and 13 assists on 15 of 27 shooting, Derrick Lively added 15 points on seven of nine shooting while Dante Exum chipped in with 14 points. As a team, the Mavericks shot 47 percent from the field and just seven of 32 from the 3-point line as they leaned on Doncic to carry them into the halftime break with the lead, only to go ice-cold and score just 41 points in the second half to lose big in the end. Grant Williams had a rough game of just five points on two of 11 shooting while Derrick Jones Jr scored just three points on one of eight shooting. 

Dallas Mavericks Team Facts

• The Mavericks have lost each of their last nine Saturday games.
• The Mavericks have failed to cover the spread in each of their last nine Saturday games against Western Conference opponents that held a losing record.
• Eleven of the Mavericks’ last 12 night games at Moda Center have gone OVER the total points line.

Portland Trail Blazers 

Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers have been in a major slump as they’ve lost six of their last eight games and they will be hoping to put an end to a five-game losing streak after falling short to the Jazz in a 122-114 loss on Thursday. Scoot Henderson led the team in scoring with 23 points and 10 assists off the bench, Toumani Camara added 18 points with six rebounds while Duop Reath chipped in with 15 points off the bench. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot just 41 percent from the field and 16 of 45 from the 3-point line, but they allowed the Jazz to get off to a flyer with 38 points in the first quarter and trailed in this one by as many as 33 points before they made a late rally to keep the final scores respectable. 

Portland Trail Blazers Team Facts

• The Trail Blazers have lost each of their last 12 games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
• The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last 12 home games against teams that held a winning record.
• Eleven of the last 12 games between the Mavericks and Trail Blazers at Moda Center have gone OVER the total points line.

Mavericks vs Trail Blazers prediction

The Mavericks will again be shorthanded with Kyrie Irving, Maxi Kleber and Seth Curry all out, while the Trail Blazers should have Jerami Grant back in the lineup. The Mavericks have been able to keep their heads above water despite the growing list of injuries thanks largely to Doncic who has been in red-hot form. The Trail Blazers are coming into this one fresh off a fifth straight loss and while they should receive a boost in the return of Grant, I’m still going with the Mavericks to get the win and cover on the road.