Portland Trail Blazers vs. Dallas Mavericks: Pro Basketball Odds and Picks

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Dallas Mavericks
Friday, 3/7/14, 8:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Dallas -2.5
Current Betting Line: Dallas -2.5
Opening Total: 218.5
Current Total: 218.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Dallas Mavericks are 2-0 SUATS as home favorites of three or fewer points

Portland has won six of its last seven games, including a 102-78 victory over the Atlanta hawks as 9.5-point home favorites Wednesday, while going UNDER the betting total for a seventh consecutive contest. The Trail Blazers have all five probable starters averaging in double figures, with forward LaMarcus Aldridge leading the way at 23.5 points per game, which can’t be ignored when making your pro basketball picks. He tallied 10 points and six rebounds last time out. Portland is 8-7 SU and 10-5 ATS as underdogs this season, with the OVER going 9-6 in that situation.

The Trail Blazers and Mavericks have played some close games in recent years, with 12 of the last 14 meetings being decided by a single-digit margin, which is important to consider when looking over the pro basketball odds page. Portland is 18-11 SU on the road—tied for the fifth-most wins away from home in the league.

Dallas is mired in a three-game losing streak, which includes a 115-110 defeat to the Denver Nuggets as five-point road favorites Wednesday, while going OVER the betting total of 220.5. The Mavericks have four of five probable starters averaging in double figures, with forward Dirk Nowitzki leading the way at 21.6 points a contest—coming off a 27-point performance last time out. He’s averaging 24.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in two starts against the Blazers in 2013-14. Dallas is 2-0 SUATS as home favorites of three or fewer points this season, with both games going OVER the total.

The Mavericks are shooting 39.9 percent from beyond the arc in their last seven games—averaging 9.9 three-pointers made over that span. Dallas is 22-4 SU this season when holdings foes under 100 points, while it has captured 29 of 35 games when entering the fourth quarter with a lead.