Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers
Sunday, 4/7/13, 9:00 PM EST, TV: NBATV
Opening Point Spread: Dallas -3.5
Current Betting Line: Dallas -4
Opening Total: 204
Current Total: 207
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Dallas snapped a two-game losing streak last time out, as it picked up a 117-108 victory over the Sacramento Kings as 1.5-point road underdogs Friday night, while going OVER the posted total of 212.5. “We’re playing game to game and trying to win every one and give ourselves a chance,” commented Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks are 2.5 games back of the Utah Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference entering Sunday, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks against the spread. Dallas is 7-12 ATS as road favorites of 3.5 to 6 points the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 11-8 in that situation.
The Mavericks are 15-24 overall on the road this season, including an 8-16 mark versus conference opponents. Fourteen of the last 18 regular-season meetings between Dallas and Portland have been decided by six points or less, with eight of the last 14 being decided by three points or fewer. The franchise is just 19-47 all-time on the road in this series. Forward Dirk Nowitzki is averaging 21.0 points in 34.5 minutes in two starts in the series during the 2012-13 NBA campaign.
Portland has dropped seven consecutive games, including a 116-98 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets as 5.5-point home underdogs Friday night, while going OVER the total for the fifth time in six contests. “To have a losing streak at this time of year and playing against playoff teams, it’s a difficult task,” stated Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts. The Trail Blazers did get a major performance out of power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with 32 points and 13 rebounds in 40 minutes. Portland is 4-6 ATS as home underdogs of 3.5 to 6 points the last two-plus seasons.
The Blazers have won three of their last four games against the Mavericks at the Rose Garden, while Aldridge is averaging 25.3 points and 10.0 rebounds in three overall games in the series this year. Portland will need to do a better job defending the perimeter in this affair, as Dallas has knocked down 50.1 percent of its shots from 3-point range.
Sports bettors will likely back the Mavericks due to their 8-3-1 ATS mark in the last 12 meetings, while the Trail Blazers are 1-7 ATS versus conference rivals.
Don’t miss out on a winning season and let the NBA handicappers at Maddux Sports line your pockets with cash. Long term packages are available now!
