DALLAS, TEXAS — The Dallas Mavericks are set to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night in what will be their final matchup of the season. The Mavericks lead the mini-series 2-1 after welcoming Portland to the American Airlines Center just before the new year.
Dallas comes into this game riding the momentum of a dominant 21-point victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. In that contest, the Mavericks held the semi-healthy Lakers under 100 points, showcasing their ability to maintain a strong defensive presence.
However, the Trail Blazers got the better of Dallas in their most recent clash, edging out a four-point win despite Kyrie Irving’s explosive 46-point performance. Irving’s heroics weren’t enough to overcome Portland’s balanced attack, and Dallas will look to avenge that loss.
Several Mavericks have stepped up in the absence of key veterans sidelined with injuries. Quentin Grimes and PJ Washington have delivered impactful performances, providing much-needed contributions on both ends of the floor.
Defense will once again be the critical factor in determining the outcome of Thursday’s game. Dominating the boards against Portland’s Deandre Ayton will be a key focus for Dallas.
The status of Daniel Gafford has been upgraded to questionable, adding intrigue to Dallas’s frontcourt rotation. Meanwhile, the availability of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving remains to be determined,
