Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trail Blazers Picks and Predictions December 23rd 2024

Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trail Blazers December 23rd 2024

At 8:30 ET, the Portland Trail Blazers (+365) will travel to take on the Dallas Mavericks (-483) in a Western Conference matchup. The over/under line for this game is 228.5 points.

Portland is 9-19 on the season and 13th in the Western Conference. Dallas is 18-10 and currently 4th in the West. The Mavericks are favored by 10 points.

Trail Blazers vs. Mavericks Key Information

Portland’s season continued to slide with a 114-94 loss to the Spurs on Saturday, dropping their record to 9-19. The Blazers entered the game as +6.5 point underdogs but failed to cover the spread, losing by 20 points. The total score of 208 points fell short of the 225.5 O/U line.

Portland trailed 25-20 after the 1st quarter, and a 35-24 2nd quarter by the Spurs put them in a deep hole. The Blazers were down 87-69 going into the 4th, where they were outscored 27-25.

In Saturday’s loss to the Spurs, the Trail Blazers managed just 94 points, shooting 39.6% from the field and 27.9% from three-point range. Shaedon Sharpe led the way with 25 points, hitting 3 threes at a 50% clip.

Anfernee Simons added 18 points, though he shot just 31.8% overall and 27.3% from deep. Deandre Ayton contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds, connecting on 63.6% of his shots.

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Defensively, the Trail Blazers struggled in the 2nd quarter, giving up 35 points, but they held the Spurs to 27 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters. Overall, Portland allowed 114 points on 47% shooting from the field.

The Blazers did a good job defending the three, holding the Spurs to 10 made threes on 27% shooting. They also sent San Antonio to the line 18 times, where the Spurs made 16 free throws. Portland finished with 8 steals and 3 blocks.

The Mavericks improved to 18-10 on the season with a 113-97 win over the Clippers on Saturday. Dallas, who entered the game as -3.5 point favorites, covered the spread. The combined score of 210 points fell short of the 220.5-point over/under line.

Dallas took control in the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Clippers 31-18. Although the Clippers narrowed the gap in the 3rd quarter, the Mavericks pulled away in the 4th, going on a 10-0 run to seal the game.

Quentin Grimes led the Mavericks with 20 points, 14 of which came in the 4th quarter, as they defeated the Clippers. Klay Thompson added 16 points, scoring 10 in the 2nd quarter and another 6 in the 4th.

Dallas hit 14 threes at a 40% clip, while shooting 45.5% overall. Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyrie Irving each contributed 15 points, with Dinwiddie also dishing out 6 assists.

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The Mavericks put on a defensive clinic on Saturday, holding the Clippers to just 97 points. Dallas was especially stingy in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed only 18 points. Overall, the Mavericks limited the Clippers to 42% shooting from the field.

Dallas was also effective in defending the three-point line, as the Clippers made just 10 threes on 27% shooting. The Mavericks finished with 12 steals and 5 blocks in the game.

As the underdogs with a spread of +10, we recommend going with the Trail Blazers on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 228.5, and our model predicts the Trail Blazers and Mavericks to score a combined 294 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Mavericks Host Skidding Blazers with Luka Doncic Questionable

The Dallas Mavericks will aim to continue their hot streak and extend the Portland Trail Blazers‘ road struggles when the two teams meet Monday in Dallas.

Dallas has won 13 of its last 16 games, while Portland, just 3-12 on the road, has dropped 11 of its last 14 contests, including a 1-7 record in December.

Mavericks Thrive Despite Doncic’s Absence

Superstar Luka Doncic has missed eight games this season, including the last two due to a left heel contusion, and is listed as questionable for Monday’s game. However, the Mavericks have managed a 6-2 record without Doncic, thanks to a balanced team effort.

Doncic remains the driving force for Dallas, averaging 28.9 points (fifth in the NBA), 8.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Despite his absence, the Mavericks have found contributions from other players. In Saturday’s 113-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, eight Dallas players scored in double figures, including Quentin Grimes (20 points off the bench) and Klay Thompson (16 points).

“Quentin is a pro. He works extremely hard,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “Whether you ask him to start, or if you ask him to come off the bench, he’s all about the team.”

Kyrie Irving, averaging 23.5 points per game, and Thompson, contributing 14.4 points in his first season with the Mavericks, have also stepped up to keep Dallas rolling.

Trail Blazers Struggling to Find Their Groove

Portland’s woes continued in a 123-103 loss to San Antonio on Saturday, just days after Anfernee Simons’ buzzer-beating layup secured a thrilling win over Denver. The Blazers have struggled to maintain consistency, largely due to injuries and a lack of offensive cohesion.

Guards Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe lead Portland with 17.7 points per game each, but coach Chauncey Billups is emphasizing the need for the team’s big men to better support the backcourt in pick-and-roll situations.

“We’ve spent some time working on the relationship between the guards and the bigs,” Billups said. “Our point guards need screens to get open and make plays. Our bigs can set screens, they’re good rollers, but Shaedon and the guys on the wings need screens to get open.”

Portland’s promising rookie, 7-foot-2 Donovan Clingan, has shown flashes of potential. Playing behind Deandre Ayton, Clingan is averaging 6.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in under 17 minutes per game. The No. 7 overall pick in June’s draft recently returned from an MCL strain and has appeared in 21 games this season.

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What to Watch For

• Luka Doncic’s Status: If Doncic suits up, the Mavericks’ potent offense will likely pose too much for Portland’s struggling defense.
• Bench Contributions: Dallas’ depth has been a key factor in its recent success, with players like Grimes and Thompson stepping up in Doncic’s absence.
• Rookie Watch: Donovan Clingan’s development continues to be a storyline for the rebuilding Blazers.

The Mavericks, winners of five straight home games, are heavy favorites to continue their winning ways against the Blazers. Meanwhile, Portland will need a significant team effort to snap their road woes and find some momentum.