ES 
NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Prediction 
Odds 
Last Recap 
Game Picks 
Top Handicapper 
Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks December 28th 2024
At 10:00 ET, the Dallas Mavericks (-183) will travel to take on the Portland Trail Blazers (+154) in a Western Conference matchup. The Mavericks are currently favored by 4.5 points, and the over/under line is set at 224.
This game will be played at the Moda Center in Portland and can be seen on KATU.
Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers Key Information
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers
- Where: Portland at Moda Center
- Date: Saturday, December 28th
- Betting Odds DAL -4.5, DAL -183 | POR +154 O/U 224
The Mavericks Can Win If…
Dallas improved to 20-11 on the season with a 98-89 win over the Suns on Friday. The Mavericks, who were +1 point underdogs going into the game, covered the spread with the victory. The total points for the game were 187, falling well short of the 224-point over/under line.
Dallas took control in the 2nd quarter, outscoring Phoenix 27-14. The Suns made a push in the 3rd quarter, cutting the lead to 72-64, but the Mavericks held on in the 4th, edging out Phoenix 26-25 in the final frame.
In their win over the Suns, the Mavericks managed just 98 points, shooting 43.8% from the field and hitting 12 threes at a 35.3% clip. Kyrie Irving led the way with 20 points, hitting 5 threes at 50%, despite shooting just 28.6% overall.
Irving scored 12 of his points in the 1st quarter, while Daniel Gafford added 8 of his 16 points in the 2nd. Klay Thompson contributed 7 of his 11 points in the 4th quarter, and both Maxi Kleber and Gafford also scored 6 points in the final period.
Find the keys to smarter bets in our Expert Betting Guide.
The Mavericks put on a defensive clinic against the Suns, holding them to just 89 points on 38% shooting. Dallas was particularly strong in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed only 14 points. The Mavericks gave up 25 points in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th quarters but still managed to keep Phoenix under 100 points.
Dallas limited the Suns to 13 made threes on 37% shooting from deep. Phoenix also went to the line 18 times, converting 12 free throws. The Mavericks grabbed 34 defensive rebounds while allowing 12 offensive boards, and they added 6 steals and 5 blocks.
- When looking at their past three road matchups, Dallas has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 115 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
- The Mavericks have played well in their last three games as the betting favorite, going 2-1 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.
- Over their last three games, the Mavericks have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.
The Trail Blazers Can Win If…
Portland improved to 10-20 on the season with a 122-120 win over the Jazz on Thursday. The Blazers were favored by 3.5 points but didn’t cover the spread, while the game’s total of 242 points exceeded the O/U line of 227.
Utah went on a 16-0 run to take control, but Portland responded by outscoring the Jazz 41-32 in the 4th quarter to complete the comeback.
Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija each scored 27 points in the Trail Blazers’ 122-120 win over the Jazz, with Avdija adding 14 points in the 4th quarter. Sharpe hit 5 threes at a 50% clip, while Avdija shot 69.2% from the field.
Portland connected on 15 threes, shooting 39.5% from deep and 50.6% overall. Deandre Ayton and Scoot Henderson both contributed 18 points, with Ayton grabbing 12 rebounds.
Despite giving up 120 points, the Trail Blazers held on for the win against the Jazz. Portland’s best defensive effort came in the 1st quarter, where they allowed 23 points, but they struggled in the 3rd and 4th, giving up 34 and 32 points, respectively. Overall, the Jazz shot 47% from the field.
Tired Of Losing Parlays?
Discover Reliable NBA Picks And Bet Smarter!
The Trail Blazers had a tough time defending the three, as the Jazz hit 21 threes at a 50% clip. Portland sent Utah to the line 25 times, with the Jazz making 17 free throws. The Blazers collected 34 defensive rebounds, gave up 11 offensive boards, and recorded 10 steals and 8 blocks.
- Through their last three home contests, the Trail Blazers offense has averaged 103 points per game while allowing an average of 120. Portland posted an overall record of 0-3 while going 1-2 ATS.
- As the betting underdog, the Trail Blazers have an ATS mark of just 5-5 in their last ten games. Portland posted a straight up mark of 2-8 in these matchups.
- In their last three games, the Trail Blazers have an over/under record of 3-0 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.
The Lean
Coming in as the underdogs at +4.5, we have the Trail Blazers as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 224 and given that our model is projecting 268 points between the teams, we like the over.
Mavericks, Facing Blazers, Strive for Another Win Without Luka Doncic
The Dallas Mavericks are proving they can win without their star player, Luka Doncic, who is expected to miss another month due to a left calf strain. They aim to improve their record without him to 8-2 as they face the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night.
Mavericks Finding Success Without Doncic
Despite Doncic’s absence, the Mavericks demonstrated resilience with a 98-89 road victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Kyrie Irving led the charge with 20 points, though he struggled with his shooting, going 6 of 21 from the field. Dallas leaned on a balanced attack, with four other players scoring in double figures.
Irving stressed the importance of maintaining momentum.
“We can’t drop any games,” Irving said. “This is an important part of the season. This is where teams either start dropping off or improving.”
Coach Jason Kidd highlighted the team’s “next-man-up” mentality.
“The depth of our team is being tested, and those guys in that locker room are up for that test,” Kidd said.
Dallas has been dominant in the matchup against Portland, winning the past six meetings, including a 132-108 rout on Monday. In that game, Doncic scored 27 points, while Daniel Gafford chipped in a season-high 23 points on perfect 7-of-7 shooting.
Trail Blazers Look to Build Momentum
Portland snapped an eight-game losing streak with a thrilling 122-120 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Scoot Henderson delivered the game-winning shot with 0.1 seconds remaining, finishing with 18 points and a season-high 10 assists.
Henderson downplayed the idea that the clutch moment was a turning point for his confidence.
“I don’t need nothing,” Henderson said. “I need my family, my support, and God. Everything else is gonna be up and down anyway.”
NBA Picks You Can Trust! Get today’s NBA basketball consensus picks for confident betting.
Forward Deni Avdija praised Henderson’s performance.
“When I see his success, and I see him making that big shot with confidence, that’s what a player needs — to keep shooting and to keep believing in himself,” Avdija said.
Avdija also shone in the win over Utah, posting a season-best 27 points along with eight rebounds and six assists. Shaedon Sharpe matched Avdija with 27 points, including five 3-pointers, while Deandre Ayton added 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Coaching Absence and Outlook
Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups will miss his second straight game as he attends his grandmother’s funeral. Assistant Nate Bjorkgren will continue to serve as acting head coach.
As the Mavericks look to maintain their recent dominance over the Blazers, Portland hopes to build on the momentum from Thursday’s win. The absence of Doncic provides an opportunity for the Trail Blazers to break Dallas’ streak and start their own.
