While the NBA Eastern Conference playoff teams have all been decided and the opening round series close to being set in stone, the Western Conference is still a little up in the air. The biggest issue at the moment is down near the bottom, where we have 4 teams all looking at landing the #8 seed. One of the more exciting aspects of the return to play was that if the #9 team got within 4 games of the #8 team at the end of the season, we would get a playoff play-in. With those 4 teams all within a game of one another, we are going to see the play-in happen but trying to figure out which two teams will be a part of it is not quite so easy. Let’s find out how these teams arrive to this matchup so you can make your bets against their NBA odds.
NBA Portland Trail Blazers Vs Dallas Mavericks Betting Preview
With just 2 games left in the regular season, that group of teams will all be paying attention to what the others are doing. The Dallas Mavericks have already punched their ticket, but they will be up against a Portland Trail Blazers team who are still in with a shot at the play-in. It is Portland who is favored by 3 ½, with the O/U for this one set at 240.
Why bet on the Portland Trail Blazers
No matter which way you look at it, time is running out for the Portland Trail Blazers in their quest to make the playoffs. As it stands right now, they would be in the play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies, but they also have a pair of teams nipping at their heels directly behind them. You do have to give some credit to the Trail Blazers for getting themselves into this position, as they have now picked up 3 wins in their last 4 games. They have been a very good bet of late, going 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 outings. That said, they have had some mixed results against the Dallas Mavericks, going 5-5 SU in their last 10 meetings, but also covering just once on their last 8 against them.
Why bet on Dallas Mavericks
No matter what happens with the Dallas Mavericks over their final 2 games of the regular season, they are going to have a tough opening round once the playoffs arrive. Dallas is sitting in the #7 spot and cannot drop any lower than that, but they do still have a shot at moving up a spot or two, although they would likely need to win out for that to happen. That is not totally impossible, because Dallas do seem to be finally settling into a groove, winning back to back games and 3 of the last 4. Dallas is listed as the home team for this one, and while it doesn’t mean a whole lot in this environment, they have gone 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games versus the Trail Blazers.
- When: Wednesday, August 11 at 6:30 PM EST
- Where: Wide World of Sports, Orlando
- Trail Blazers Vs Mavericks Live: TNT
- Money Lines: Trail Blazers -160 / Mavericks +135
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
I am seriously on the fence with this game in terms of the SU and ATS wagers, but I do think I have a decent pick with the O/U. 5 of the last 6 meetings between these two teams have gone the way of the OVER, so let’s take that pick again.
Pick: Portland Trail Blazers 124 Dallas Mavericks 120
