Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks Betting Pick & Prediction 12/23/24
At 8:30 ET, the Portland Trail Blazers (9-19) will take on the Dallas Mavericks (18-10) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Mavericks are currently favored by 10 points and are 4th in the Western Conference, while the Trail Blazers are 13th in the West.
This Western Conference matchup can be seen on KATU.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS DALLAS MAVERICKS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Portland Trail Blazers +10
This game will be played at American Airlines Center at 8:30 ET on Monday, December 23rd.
WHY BET THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 160-134 in favor of the Trail Blazers.
- Our projections have Anfernee Simons finishing with 20 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists.
- From the field, we have the Trail Blazers finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.8% and knocking down 15 threes.
Will the Trail Blazers Make it Happen in Dallas?
The Trail Blazers fell to 9-19 on the season after a 114-94 road loss to the Spurs on Saturday. Portland entered the game as +6.5 point underdogs but couldn’t keep it close, losing by 20 points. The total score of 208 points fell short of the 225.5-point over/under line.
Portland trailed 60-44 at halftime after a rough 2nd quarter, where they were outscored 35-24. The Blazers couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, as both teams scored 27 points in each of the final two quarters.
In their 114-94 loss to the Spurs, the Trail Blazers struggled offensively, shooting just 39.6% from the field and 27.9% from three-point range. They connected on 12 threes, with Shaedon Sharpe hitting 3 at a 50% rate, finishing with a team-high 25 points.
Anfernee Simons also made 3 threes, shooting 27.3% from deep and contributing 18 points and 6 assists. Deandre Ayton added 14 points, shooting 63.6% from the field.
Defensively, the Trail Blazers had a tough 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 solid job defending the three, holding the Spurs to just 10 made threes on 27% shooting. They also sent the Spurs to the line 18 times, where they made 16 free throws. Portland finished with 8 steals and 3 blocks.
Does Dallas Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?
The Mavericks improved to 18-10 on the season with a 113-97 win over the Clippers on Saturday. Playing at home, Dallas entered the game as -3.5 favorites and covered the spread. The combined score of 210 points fell short of the 220.5-point O/U line.
After a strong 2nd quarter, where they outscored the Clippers 31-18, the Mavericks saw their lead shrink in the 3rd. However, they pulled away in the 4th, going on a 10-0 run to seal the game.
Quentin Grimes led the Mavericks with 20 points, including 14 in the 4th quarter, as they defeated the Clippers 113-97. Grimes shot 87.5% from the field and hit 3 threes at a 75% rate. Klay Thompson added 16 points, with 10 coming in the 2nd quarter and another 6 in the 4th.
Dallas hit 14 threes, shooting 40% from beyond the arc, while finishing with an overall field goal percentage of 45.5%. Spencer Dinwiddie and Kyrie Irving each contributed 15 points, with Dinwiddie dishing out 6 assists.
The Mavericks put on a defensive clinic against the Clippers, holding them to just 97 points. Dallas was particularly strong in the 2nd quarter, where they gave up only 18 points. Overall, they limited Los Angeles to 42% shooting from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Mavericks were even better, allowing just 10 threes on 27% shooting. They also recorded 12 steals and 5 blocks in the game.