2011 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals, Game #4
#3 Dallas Mavericks at #6 Portland Trail Blazers (DAL leads series 2-1) Best of Seven Series Format 2-2-1-1-1
Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon
Saturday, April 23, 2011, 5:05 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Blazers -5
Current Line: Blazers -4
Opening Total: 187
Current Total: 186 1/2
Money Line: Blazers -195 / Mavericks +165
After Dallas won the first two games of the series in Texas, Portland faced a must win game 3 on their own home court Thursday night. The Trail Blazers responded with a 97-92 win, but they can’t rest on their laurels. If they lose game #4 then they will be down 3-1 and have to beat the Mavericks twice in Dallas to win the series.
These teams have played 7 times this season and the home team has won every game. All have been close games that were decided in the games’ final minutes. Dallas won game #1 of this series 89-81 and won game #2 101-89. Mavericks’ All-Star Forward has been brilliant in the three playoff games so far averaging 28.7 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. He had 25 points and 9 rebounds in the game 3 loss for the Mavs. Shooting Guard Jason Terry led the Mavericks with 29 points and 7 assists off the bench Thursday night. No other Maverick player scored more than 9 points in the game. The Mavs shot 52% from the field but 16 turnovers and 10 missed free throws doomed them in the game 3 loss. Jason Kidd only scored 8 points Thursday night but he is averaging 16.7 points so far in the playoffs along with 5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1 block a game. Terry is averaging 16.3 points a game and leads the team in steals in the playoffs with 1.7 a game. Forward Peja Stojakovic is averaging 11.3 points a game during the playoffs.
Guard Wesley Matthews led the Blazers in scoring in game 3 with 25 points. LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 points and 4 rebounds in the win. Point guard Andre Miller added 16 points and 7 assists and former All Star Brandon Roy added 16 points off the bench for the Blazers in the win. Gerald Wallace pulled down 11 rebounds and Marcus Camby added 10 rebounds. The Blazers shot 48% from the field and only turned the ball over 9 times. For the playoffs Aldridge is averaging 23.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game. Miller is averaging 17.3 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds a game. Matthews is averaging 13.3 points a game. Wallace is averaging 11 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game. Small forward Nicolas Batum is averaging 10.3 points a game during the playoffs. Camby is averaging 12 rebounds a game.
Dallas is 8-6 both straight up and ATS versus Portland in the last 14 meetings. The over is also 8-6 in those games. Portland is 91-68 ATS in all games the last 3 seasons. The Blazers are 31-11 straight up at home this season and 24-17 ATS. Dallas is 28-14 straight up and 26-16 ATS in road games this season. The Mavericks are 47-36 in all games ATS this season including 27-16 versus teams with winning records.
Guard Rodrique Beaubois is doubtful Saturday for the Mavericks having missed the first 3 games of the series with a foot injury. Guard Dominique Jones and Forward Caron Butler are both out indefinitely. Portland has no significant injuries right now.
Portland is very strong at home and has a good chance to even the series. If Dallas makes some more free throws and doesn’t turn the ball over as much they can pull off the mild upset and put a stranglehold on the series. However, a Portland win would even up the series meaning there is a good chance the series will go 7 games. This game should go down to the wire.
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