Breaking the Curse: Dallas Looks to Snap 6-Game Road Slide in Portland
The Dallas Mavericks (12-21) arrive in the Pacific Northwest tonight with a heavy burden on their shoulders. After a grueling stretch that has seen them drop six consecutive games on the road, the Mavericks are desperate for a change of scenery—or at least a change in outcome. Standing in their way are the Portland Trail Blazers (13-19), a team coming off a high-stakes victory against the Boston Celtics and looking to protect their home court at the Moda Center.
For the Mavericks, this isn’t just another December game; it is a battle for identity and a desperate attempt to keep their season from spiraling out of contention.
The Road Woes: Analyzing Dallas’s Struggles
The Mavericks’ current six-game road skid has exposed deep-seated issues in their consistency and late-game execution. Despite high-scoring outputs, Dallas has struggled to find stops when it matters most. Over their last ten games, the Mavericks have averaged 118.2 points, yet they are allowing opponents to score a staggering 121.5 points per game.
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Defensive Rebounding: While the Mavericks rank 4th in the NBA in defensive rebounding (averaging 34.5 per game), their perimeter defense has been porous.
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Conference Struggles: Dallas is currently 6-15 in matchups against Western Conference opponents, a stat they must improve to climb from their 12th-place standing.
The absence of Kyrie Irving (out with a knee injury) has placed an immense scoring and playmaking burden on the younger roster, specifically rookie standout Cooper Flagg.
Portland’s Momentum
The Trail Blazers, currently 10th in the West, are finding their rhythm at the right time. Fresh off a 114-108 upset over the Celtics, Portland is led by the surging Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe.
Avdija has been a triple-double threat, recently averaging 25.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. Meanwhile, Sharpe has been a scoring machine, putting up 26 points per game over his last ten outings. Portland’s strength lies in their interior presence; they rank 4th in the West in rebounding, paced by Donovan Clingan’s 10.6 boards per game.
Key Matchups to Watch
| Dallas Mavericks | Portland Trail Blazers | Why it Matters |
| Cooper Flagg | Deni Avdija | The battle of versatile forwards who do it all. |
| Anthony Davis | Donovan Clingan | Davis (day-to-day) needs to dominate the glass to stop Portland’s second-chance points. |
| P.J. Washington | Shaedon Sharpe | Washington’s defensive length will be tested by Sharpe’s explosive scoring. |
Injury Report: A Depleted Roster
Both teams are entering this matchup significantly shorthanded, which may turn the game into a test of bench depth.
Portland Trail Blazers:
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Out: Jrue Holiday (Calf), Jerami Grant (Achilles), Scoot Henderson (Hamstring), Matisse Thybulle (Thumb).
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Out for Season: Damian Lillard (Achilles).
Dallas Mavericks:
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Out: Kyrie Irving (Knee).
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Out for Season: Dereck Lively II (Foot), Dante Exum (Knee).
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Questionable: Anthony Davis (Groin).
Betting Odds & Outlook
The oddsmakers at BetMGM have the Trail Blazers as slim 1.5-point favorites, with an over/under set at 235.5. Given that Dallas won the previous matchup this season (a 138-133 overtime thriller in November), Portland will be seeking revenge.
The Mavericks’ best path to victory lies in their 3-point shooting and fast-break points, where they lead the Western Conference. If Cooper Flagg can continue his rookie-of-the-year campaign with another 20+ point performance and P.J. Washington can replicate his recent defensive dominance (4 blocks per game over the last 10), Dallas may finally find a way to silence the Portland crowd.
Bottom Line: Dallas is fighting more than just the Trail Blazers tonight; they are fighting the psychological weight of a month-long road struggle. A win tonight could be the spark they need to turn their 2025 season around.
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