The Dallas Mavericks (19-15) are gearing up to host the Portland Trail Blazers (9-23) at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday. Currently sitting in seventh place in the Western Conference, the Mavericks are strong favorites among bookmarkers with an 11-point lead.
The game against Portland marks the beginning of a seven-game home stand for Dallas, making it the longest home game stretch in the season for the Mevs. The team began the season strong with a 4-1 record in their initial five home games but have since struggled, posting a 4-6 record.
In the last game against the Utah Jazz, the Mavericks faced a significant scoring drought. They managed only 11 points in the fourth quarter, leading to a 127-90 loss. Dallas also struggled with their 3-point shooting, making just 11 of 40 attempts from long range, with Luka Doncic contributing a 3-for-13 performance.
Despite this setback, Doncic led the team with 19 points and 14 assists in the game. He has had a remarkable season, averaging 33.4 points and 9.4 assists per game through 31 games.
" was at full speed, we were at half speed," Maverick coach Jason Frederick Kidd said.
"Any time that happens, you're not going to have any success. Our energy was down for pretty much the whole game. ... The communication for our group was non-existent tonight and as a coach, I take the blame for that, but we have got to be better."
After Wednesday's game, the Mavericks will face the Trail Blazers again on Friday. Notably, Dallas has a favorable track record against Portland, winning eight of the last 10 games dating back to 2021.
This season, the Mavericks have secured two victories over the Trail Blazers, averaging 128 points in both matchups.
With the seven-game home stand ahead, the Mavericks aim to defend their home court and climb the Western Conference standings.
Trail Blazers to seek redemption amid struggles
The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, are also facing a challenging period. Portland has dropped 11 of their last 14 games overall. Now, they are looking to rebound from a 109-88 defeat against the Suns on Monday.
Scoot Henderson emerged as a bright spot for the Trail Blazers, leading the team with 17 points and contributing six assists. Jerami Grant added 15 points to the effort, while Malcolm Brogdon chipped in with 10 points and five assists.
Despite a promising start in Monday's game, Portland faced a significant setback. They were outscored 66-32 in the second and third quarters, marking their 12th road loss in 16 away games.
"I thought we had a really good first quarter. Then the second quarter happened. We had eight turnovers, they jumped on us, and we just didn't have enough. It was tough for us to score," said Portland coach Chauncey Billups.
The Trail Blazers were further hampered by the absence of key players due to injuries. Their leading scorer of the season, Anfernee Simons, was sidelined due to an illness. Meanwhile, top rebounder Deandre Ayton was unavailable due to a knee injury.
"I don't make excuses,” said Billups. “No matter who's out there, it's an NBA player and someone who deserves to be here. We had guys who were out there playing their hearts out. We just didn't play well enough to win."
Rookie Scoot Henderson led the charge for Portland's offense with 17 points. He showcased improvement after a slow start to his career. The third-overall pick has impressively scored in double figures in each of his last five games, providing a glimmer of hope for the Trail Blazers.