After a narrow 101-100 season opening loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks have won three-straight. Thursday night they take on the Portland Trail Blazers next in what should be an exciting matchup in the Western Conference.
There’s another blockbuster of an entirely different sort Thursday night. Check out our preview for Thursday Night Football’s Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, Portland
When: Thursday, November 6, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Dallas Mavericks (+2.5) at Portland Trail Blazers (-2.5); total 207.5 – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks have looked like an unstoppable force, at least in the first half of their games. The Mavericks have led by at least 20 points in the first half of their last three games before being outscored in the third quarter in the last three games.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Nevertheless, the Mavs remain potent on offense with plenty of options to get them on the scoreboard, which is why the total has gone over in their last three games.
Dirk Nowitzki spearheads Dallas’ offense scoring 20.8 points per game this season. He scored 27 for the Mavericks in a 118-113 win over the Boston Celtics, and should remain a scoring threat considering Portland’s inclination to let big men dominate from the inside. Offseason acquisition Chandler Parsons scored 29 points in the match and sank four of five from downtown.
Center Tyson Chandler has made his presence felt in the paint with 8.8 rebounds and 1.75 blocks per game in the new campaign. Chandler, along with Nowitzki, should provide a challenge for Portland’s leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge in the shaded area. The Mavericks also have a bevy of outside shooters led by Parsons and starting point guard Jameer Nelson both of whom are shooting with a .444 clip from the three-point line.
The Mavericks are 3-0 ATS in their last three games in Portland.
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Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers looked unstoppable in a dominant 101-82 upset over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. They outscored their opponents in the final three quarters, which should come in handy against the Mavericks, who have been slowing down late in games. The Blazers are 4-1 in Thursday games dating back to January 2014.
Damian Lillard snapped his shooting slump, exploding with 27 points on .462 shooting, including going 5 for 10 from downtown. Lillard’s outside shooting will be critical in this game as leading scorer LeMarcus Aldridge (22.8 points per game) may find it difficult to score against Dallas’ big men guarding the shaded area. Aldridge finished with 16 points and four rebounds matched up against Cleveland’s Kevin Love on Tuesday.
Still, there’s more to the Blazers than Lillard and Aldridge. Center Robin Lopez finished with 19 points, six rebounds and three steals against the Cavaliers to give Portland another option at attacking the basket, while Wesley Matthews, shooting .462 from the field, should stretch out Dallas’ defense.
However, the Blazers struggle against dominant big men. They allowed Cleveland’s Kevin Love 22 points and a game-high 10 rebounds on Wednesday. The Blazers were also outrebounded by the Sacramento Kings 49-38 with the Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins taking a game-high nine rebounds. Portland will need to work harder against Dallas’ big men in Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler, who combine for 14.3 rebounds per game, while both averaging with double digit points.
The total has gone under in Portland’s four games this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Dallas’ potent attack will be too much for the Blazers. Take the Mavericks to win and cover on the road.
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