The Portland Trail Blazers (18-24) will travel to the American Airlines Center to meet the Dallas Mavericks (26-15). The game starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 17, 2020, and will air on ESPN.
Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks Betting Odds
Both teams covered in their last outing. The Mavericks (3.5-point favorites) defeated the Sacramento Kings 127-123, while the Trail Blazers (8.5-point underdog) beat the Houston Rockets 117-107. The Dallas game finished 24 points over the projected point total of 226, while the Portland game finished 13.5 points under the projected point total of 237.5.
Portland played a perfect game. They had a fantastically low turnover percentage of 6.1 (better than their season average of 11.3) and a free throw rate of 0.253 (above their season average of 0.193). For those same stats, Houston was 10.2 and 0.156, respectively. Meanwhile, Dallas’ free throw rate was their largest advantage over Sacramento. The Mavericks had a rate of 0.217 (above their season average of 0.207), while the Kings posted a mark of 0.115 (below their season average of 0.174). Luka Doncic led the way for Dallas with 25 points, 17 assists and 15 rebounds to register his 11th triple-double this year. Meanwhile, Hassan Whiteside had a good outing for Portland, recording 18 points and 18 rebounds.
In their first matchup this year, CJ McCollum led the Trail Blazers to a 121-119 victory. He was the game’s top overall scorer with 35 points. Portland covered as a 3-point underdog and the two teams combined for 240 points, which was well over the projected point total of 218.5. Portland’s 0.569 effective field goal percentage was its biggest advantage over Dallas, who had a rate of 0.463.
A little over half of the Trail Blazers’ games have finished under the O/U total. Portland comes into the game with records of 18-24 straight up (SU) and 16-24-2 against the spread (ATS).
Of the Mavericks’ 41 games, 25 have finished over the O/U total. Moreover, Dallas is 26-15 SU and 24-17 ATS.
Dallas should be expected to protect the ball well in this contest. Dallas ranks first in the NBA at avoiding errors (turnover percentage of 12.1 percent), while Portland forces the second-fewest turnovers (11.9 percent).
Trail Blazers at Mavericks Free Pick
Prediction: SU Winner – Trail Blazers, ATS Winner – Trail Blazers, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Trail Blazers rank second in points off turnovers allowed per game (14.3) while the Mavericks rank sixth (15.0).
- Dallas ranks second in second chance points per game (15.0) while Portland ranks last in second chance points allowed per game (15.7).
- The Trail Blazers rank second in blocks per game (6.4) while the Mavericks rank 19th (4.6).
- Portland ranks 14th in fast-break points per game (12.9) while Dallas ranks last in fast-break points allowed per game (16.4).
- Dallas ranks 23rd in points in the paint per game (45.6) while Portland ranks 29th (43.0).
- The Mavericks rank fourth in rebounds per game (47.7) while the Trail Blazers rank 28th in rebounds allowed per game (48.3).
- The Mavericks rank 15th in assists per game (24.3) while the Trail Blazers rank last (19.7).
- Neither of these teams are great at stealing the ball. Dallas is 27th in the NBA with 6.3 steals per game while Portland is 29th with 5.9 steals per game.
- Dallas averages 40.8 three pointers per game, which ranks second in the NBA. Portland ranks 23rd in three pointers allowed per game (34.8).
- Portland is 4-0 when they allow under 100 points, while Dallas is 7-0.
- When reaching 100 points, the Trail Blazers are 18-18 and the Mavericks are 26-13.
- Dallas is 9-13 ATS at home, while Portland is 10-12-1 ATS on the road.
- The total has gone under in 14 of the Trail Blazers’ 23 road games, while 13 of the Mavericks’ 22 home games have gone over.
Bettings Trends:
- The Mavericks are 3-2 ATS over their last five games, while the Trail Blazers are 2-3.
- In their last five games, Dallas has 3 unders and 2 overs, while Portland has 4 unders and 1 over.
- During their last five games, the Mavericks have scored an average of 116.0 points per game (0.6 below their season average) and allowed an average of 109.4 points per game (0.1 above their season average).
- The Trail Blazers’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 4.0, up from 2.0 for the season.
