Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trailblazers Betting Odds


Opening Line: Mavericks +5 / Blazers -5 O/U 191

Time: 10 PM EST Friday April 9, 2010 on NBA TV

Tonight in an important Western Conference match up the streaking Portland Trailblazers host the Dallas Mavericks. Both teams will make the playoffs, but the last few games are still important for playoff positioning. The Blazers are tied for 6th place with San Antonio and Oklahoma City and Portland would like to avoid the 8th spot so they do not have to face the Lakers in the 1st round of the playoffs.

The Mavericks are tied for 3rd place with Phoenix and only trail 2nd place Denver by ½ game and only lead 5th place Utah by ½ game. The Mavs want to finish off the season strong so they can, at least, host a 1st round playoff series.

This season the Blazers are 25-13 at home and 43-33-2 ATS and the Mavericks are 24-14 on the road and 32-44-2 ATS.

Dallas is coming off a win and is 5-5 in their last 10 games and the Blazers have won 2 in a row and are 8-2 in their last 10 games.

In their last games both teams won on Wednesday night with the Mavs beating the Memphis Grizzlies 110-84 and the Blazers beating the L.A. Clippers 93-85.

Portland is currently on a 6-game winning streak at home.

The Mavericks may play the Blazers in a 1st round playoff series and really could use a win tonight, as they have not beat Portland this season (0-3).

Dallas finally played some D in the last win over Memphis only giving up 84 points to the Grizzlies after giving up at least 100 in 7 of their last 11 games.

The Mavs have to play good D on the trio of LeMarcus Aldridge (17.7 ppg), Brandon Roy (22 ppg), and especially Andre Miller (14.1 ppg). Aldridge has averaged 20 ppg and 8.7 rpg and Miller dropped 52 on them earlier this season.

Portland has a great defense, ranked 3rd in the league in opponents' points allowed, and they have to win with defense and not allow this game to become a shootout, as their offense only ranks 21st in the league in scoring.

The Mavs can clinch the Southwest Division if they beat Portland tonight.

Dirk Nowitzki (24.7 ppg) has to score tonight and Jason Kidd has to run an up-tempo game, as the more points are scored the bigger the advantage Dallas has.

The Blazers are a better rebounding team, so if Aldridge and Marcus Camby (10.4 rpg) control the glass Portland will be in good shape.

Betting Trends

Dallas is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog, and has an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 games.

Portland is 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite, and has an Under record of 10-3 in their last 13 home games.

Our Selection : Take Over 191 points.


Future Betting Odds

NBA Handicapping

Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat Odds 6-12
The Mavs are up 3-2 in this series heading to South Beach and for the Heat to force Game 7 they will have to play better in the 4th quarter, especially LeBron James. 5Dimes has the hometown Heat as 5-point favorites in Game 6 with a total of 187.

NBA Toolbox

Sportsbooks