The Portland Trail Blazers will attempt to move one step closer to locking up a Western Conference playoff spot tonight as they host the Dallas Mavericks at the Rose Garden. This evening's game is scheduled to tip off at 9:00pm ET on NBA TV. NBA Point Spreads are favoring the Blazers at -4.5; the game total is set at 188 with both the Over and Under receiving -110 odds.
At 53-23 the Mavericks have already secured a postseason berth, but they certainly do not want to hit the playoff in a funk.
Should they fall tonight, that is exactly what Dallas would find itself.
The Mavericks started out their current six game road swing with wins over the Jazz, Suns, and Clippers, but they stumble into this evening's skirmish coming off back to back losses. Dallas bit it hard against the Lakers on Thursday night, losing 82-110 at the STAPLES Center and they dropped one last night at Golden State.
The Warriors upended the Mavs 99-92 after Dirk Nowitzki and company hit just 65 percent of their free throw attempts. Only two Dallas starters reached double figures in scoring (Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler) as the rest of the first unit combined to go 3-for-18 from the field.
Portland (44-32) has not finalized its spot in the playoffs, but it is dangerously close to doing so. The Trail Blazers are four games ahead of the ninth place Rockets, the only team that can supplant them, with just sx games remaining on the schedule.
Portland won its eighth straight home game on Friday night, taking out the Thunder 98-91 at the Rose Garden. LaMarcus Aldridge continued his terrific season, posting 32 points and eight rebounds in leading his team to victory.
The Trail Blazers won the last meeting between these two teams, beating the Mavericks 104-101 in Portland. Dallas, which is 3-2 in its last five at the Rose Garden, had won three in a row against the Blazers prior to that game.
Mavericks vs Trail Blazers NBA Point Spreads April 3rd, 2011:
Dallas Mavericks +4.5 (-110), Over 188 (-110), +175 (Moneyline)
Portland Trail Blazers -4.5 (-`110), Under 188 (-110), -205 (Moneyline)
