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(NBA) Portland vs. Dallas,
Point Spread: -1.50 | -105.00 Portland (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -1.50 | -105.00 Portland (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 22-30 Portland Trail Blazers will be in Dallas tonight to take on the 20-31 Dallas Mavericks. Both teams are chasing Denver, which at 23-28, currently owns the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
Portland: The Blazers come into this game having lost two straight, 108-104 at home to the Mavs this past Friday and then 105-99 at OKC on Super Bowl Sunday. The loss to the Thunder was typical, as the Blazers have all too often failed to win tightly contested games (Portland is just 9-14 this season in games that are within three points in the final three minutes!). The Blazers do own one the NBA's best backcourts in PG Lillard (26.0-4.8-5.8) and SG McCollum (23.4) but consistent production from the rest of the lineup has been an issue.
Dallas: The Mavs lost 110-87 last night in Denver but had won four straight and six of seven, prior to that. Recently, the insertion of PG Yogi Ferrell, an undrafted FA signed to a 10-day contract, into the starting lineup has sparked Dallas. Monday's game was Ferrell's fifth consecutive start (team is 4-1), as starting PG Deron Williams is out with a toe sprain. He had 15 points and five assists against the Nuggets and is averaging 17.2 PPG and 5.0 APG since joining Dallas. Ferrell had 32 points and nine three-pointers in Dallas' 108-104 victory in Portland on Friday. The owrd is that the Mavericks plan to sign him to a two-year contract.
The pick: The Mavs are playing better ball than the Blazers recently (have won nine of 13) but are playing on back-to-back nights while the Blazers are looking for a some "instant revenge" from their Friday home loss to this team. I'm taking the points and making Portland a 10* play.
Portland: The Blazers come into this game having lost two straight, 108-104 at home to the Mavs this past Friday and then 105-99 at OKC on Super Bowl Sunday. The loss to the Thunder was typical, as the Blazers have all too often failed to win tightly contested games (Portland is just 9-14 this season in games that are within three points in the final three minutes!). The Blazers do own one the NBA's best backcourts in PG Lillard (26.0-4.8-5.8) and SG McCollum (23.4) but consistent production from the rest of the lineup has been an issue.
Dallas: The Mavs lost 110-87 last night in Denver but had won four straight and six of seven, prior to that. Recently, the insertion of PG Yogi Ferrell, an undrafted FA signed to a 10-day contract, into the starting lineup has sparked Dallas. Monday's game was Ferrell's fifth consecutive start (team is 4-1), as starting PG Deron Williams is out with a toe sprain. He had 15 points and five assists against the Nuggets and is averaging 17.2 PPG and 5.0 APG since joining Dallas. Ferrell had 32 points and nine three-pointers in Dallas' 108-104 victory in Portland on Friday. The owrd is that the Mavericks plan to sign him to a two-year contract.
The pick: The Mavs are playing better ball than the Blazers recently (have won nine of 13) but are playing on back-to-back nights while the Blazers are looking for a some "instant revenge" from their Friday home loss to this team. I'm taking the points and making Portland a 10* play.
