Brendan O’Sullivan dives into his pick and prediction for the Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers game on Friday.
The Mavericks and Trail Blazers are set to play their third and final matchup of the regular season. These teams split the season series, making this the deciding game.
Portland is a 10.5-point favorite and -470 on the moneyline, while Dallas is +360 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 241.5 points.
Here’s a preview, prediction and pick for Friday’s Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers matchup.
Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers prediction, preview
The top 10 teams in the Western Conference are locked into the playoffs/play-in tournament. The gap between the 10th and 11th seed is over 10 games. Dallas is one of the five teams already eliminated, while Portland is the ninth seed.
The teams are separated by 13.5 games, with the Trail Blazers still pushing for better seeding. They’re 37-37, a half game back from the eighth seed and 3.5 back from the seventh seed. This team has a young core led by Deni Avdija, but it’s most likely locked into a Play-In Tournament bid. In a stacked Western Conference, that’s not a disappointment for a young core.
Avdija made his first All-Star game and is averaging 23.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. Shaedon Sharpe has also leveled up in his fourth professional season, becoming a solid secondary option in the offense. Veterans Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday bring stability to a young team, and sophomore Donovan Clingan is taking a leap as a great rim protector.
The Mavericks are less exciting, but they still have No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg leading the way. He’s a top choice for Rookie of the Year, but the rest of the roster is flawed. The team traded Anthony Davis to Washington a year after acquiring him for Luka Doncic, and Kyrie Irving is recovering from a major knee injury.
While the future may be bright in Dallas, it’s gloomy this year. Portland, on the other hand, is starting to see light at the end of the tunnel.
Mavericks vs. Trail Blazers pick, best bet
The Trail Blazers are not a championship contender, but they are much better than the Mavericks right now. Portland is 7-3 over its last 10 games, while Dallas is 2-8 over the same stretch.
Flagg is having a good season, but it’s not enough on his own. The Trail Blazers will defend home court and cover the -10.5-point spread.