Mavericks Looking to Rebound in Upcoming Home Stand
The Dallas Mavericks, with a current record of 19-15, are set to begin a seven-game home stand, starting with a matchup against the struggling Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers find themselves in a tough spot, holding a 9-23 record. Despite recent setbacks, the Mavericks are entering the game as favorites, predicted to lead by 11 points.
Presently positioned seventh in the Western Conference, Dallas aims to capitalize on this extended stay at home to improve their standing. Their early season form showed promise with a 4-1 record at home, but they've hit a rough patch recently, posting a 4-6 record in their last ten home games. This stretch includes a disappointing performance where Dallas scored a mere 11 points in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz, leading to a heavy 127-90 loss.
In that game against Utah, the Mavericks struggled from beyond the arc, making only 11 out of 40 attempts at three-pointers. Luka Doncic, who has been averaging 33.4 points and 9.4 assists per game, had a particularly off night, shooting 3-for-13 on three-pointers. Despite this, Dallas has a history of success against Portland, winning eight of the last 10 encounters since 2021, including two victories this season with an impressive average score of 128 points.
Trail Blazers' Struggles Continue
Portland's season has been marred by challenges, with the team losing 11 of their last 14 games. Their most recent defeat came at the hands of the Phoenix Suns with a scoreline of 109-88. During this match, the Trail Blazers were notably outscored 66-32 across the second and third quarters.
With a 12-16 record on the road, the Blazers are hoping to turn things around, but they will have to do so without Anfernee Simons, who was out due to illness, and Deandre Ayton sidelined by a knee injury. Scoot Henderson has been a consistent performer for Portland, scoring in double figures for five consecutive games, including a 17-point effort with six assists against the Suns. Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon contributed 15 and 10 points respectively in the same game.
Coaches Reflect on Recent Performances
After the heavy loss to the Jazz, Mavericks head coach Jason Frederick Kidd did not mince words. "Utah was at full speed, we were at half speed," he remarked. He acknowledged the lack of energy and communication within the team, taking responsibility for the poor showing and emphasizing the need for improvement.
On the other side, Chauncey Billups, the Trail Blazers' coach, reflected on his team's struggles. Despite a strong first quarter in their last outing, turnovers in the second quarter allowed the Suns to take control of the game. "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," Billups said. He refused to use the absence of key players as an excuse, insisting that the players on the court fought hard but simply did not perform well enough to secure a win.
Looking Ahead
As the Mavericks look to bounce back from their recent slump, the upcoming home stand presents an opportunity to regain momentum. With the advantage of playing on familiar ground and a track record of success against the Trail Blazers, Dallas is poised to start their home stretch on a positive note. However, they must address their recent inconsistencies to avoid another upset.
For Portland, the challenge remains steep. The team needs to find solutions to their ongoing issues, especially when facing a formidable opponent like Dallas. With Henderson stepping up and the potential return of key players, the Trail Blazers will be looking to pull off an upset and kickstart a resurgence in what has been a difficult season thus far.
Both teams have a lot to prove in their upcoming encounter, setting the stage for what should be an intriguing battle on the hardwood.