The Dallas Mavericks (20-11) travel to face off against the Portland Trail Blazers (10-20) on Saturday, December 28th. This game will be played at Moda Center in Portland and televised on KATU. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 10:00 ET.

Mavericks vs Trail Blazers

The Mavericks Are Coming Off A Win

The Mavericks improved to 20-11 on the season with a 98-89 win over the Suns on Friday. Dallas, who entered the game as +1 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread. The combined score of 187 points fell well short of the O/U line of 224.

Dallas set the tone with a strong 2nd quarter, outscoring Phoenix 27-14. Although the Suns fought back in the 3rd, winning the quarter 25-17, the Mavericks maintained their lead and edged out Phoenix 26-25 in the final quarter.

The Trail Blazers Are Coming Off A Win

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 at home but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 242 exceeded the O/U line of 227.

Portland faced a 16-0 run by the Jazz, who took the score from 57-55 to 71-57. The Blazers responded by outscoring Utah 41-32 in the 4th quarter, overcoming an 88-81 deficit heading into the final period.

Mavericks Offense Breakdown

Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks to a win over the Suns, scoring 20 points despite shooting just 28.6% from the field. He hit 5 threes at a 50% rate, with 12 of his points coming in the first quarter. Daniel Gafford added 16 points, including 8 in the 2nd quarter and 6 more in the 4th.

Spencer Dinwiddie and Maxi Kleber each scored 15 points, with Kleber contributing 6 in the final quarter. Klay Thompson also added 7 of his 11 points in the 4th. The Mavericks shot 43.8% from the field and made 12 threes at a 35.3% rate.

Trail Blazers Offense Breakdown

In their 122-120 win over the Jazz, the Trail Blazers shot 50.6% from the field and connected on 15 threes at a 39.5% rate. Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija both scored 27 points, with Sharpe hitting 5 threes and Avdija shooting 69.2% from the floor.

Avdija scored 14 points in the 4th quarter, while Sharpe added 12 in the final period. Deandre Ayton and Scoot Henderson each contributed 9 points in the 2nd quarter, finishing with 18 points apiece.

Mavericks Team Defense

The Mavericks’ defense was stellar on Friday, holding the Suns to just 89 points. Their best defensive effort came in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed only 14 points. Dallas gave up 25 points in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th quarters but still managed to keep Phoenix under 100 points.

Dallas held the Suns to 38% shooting overall, including 37% from beyond the arc, where Phoenix hit 13 threes. The Mavericks sent the Suns to the line 18 times, where they made 12 free throws. Defensively, Dallas recorded 6 steals and 5 blocks.

Trail Blazers Team Defense

The Mavericks put on a defensive clinic against the Suns, holding them to just 89 points on 38% shooting. Dallas was especially stingy 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.

From beyond the arc, the Suns hit 13 threes at a 37% clip. The Mavericks sent Phoenix to the line 18 times, where they made 12 free throws. Dallas also recorded 34 defensive rebounds, allowing 12 offensive boards, while adding 6 steals and 5 blocks.

Mavericks vs Trail Blazers Trends

• In their last five road games, Dallas has averaged 121 points per game while allowing 111 . The team’s record in this stretch was 4-1 while going 3-2 vs. the spread.
• In their last five games at home, the Trail Blazers have a straight up record of 0-5 while going 1-4 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 102 points per game in these contests.
• Spanning across their last three games as the betting underdog, the Trail Blazers have gone 1-2 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-2.
• Through their previous five contests as the betting favorite, the Mavericks have a strong record of 3-2. Their record vs the spread in these matchups is 2-3.

Mavericks vs Trail Blazers Prediction

As the underdogs with a spread of +4.5, 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.

As for the over/under, the the line is currently at 224, and our model projects the Mavericks and Trail Blazers to reach a combined total of 268 points. Our bet is on taking the over.

---

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

---

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.