Portland Trail Blazers(27-53) vsDallas Mavericks(50-30)

The Portland Trail Blazers travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks on the second night of a back to back. The Blazers have their last road game of the year before returning home for their final game currently in the middle of a nine game losing streak. The Mavericks are back at home for their final two games of the regular season looking to pick up a third straight win.

Friday, April 8- 5:30 p.m. PT
How to watch on TV:Root Sports NW, NBA League Pass
Blazers injuries:Damian Lillard (out), Nassir Little (out), Jusuf Nurkic (out), Eric Bledsoe (out), Joe Ingles (out), Anfernee Simons (out), Justise Winslow (out), Josh Hart (out), Trendon Watford (out), Kris Dunn (out), Brandon Williams (day-to-day)
Mavericks injuries:Tim Hardaway Jr. (out), Maxi Kleber (day-to-day)
SBN Affiliate:Mavs Moneyball

What To Watch For

Live and die by the three.The Mavericks and the Blazers are 10th and 11th in three point attempts per game respectively. However, both rank in the bottom third of the league in actually making those shots. There are some high volume shooters in this game between the two teams, and which one is able to have a greater impact on the game could decide the contest.

Locked into the lottery.With the loss to the Pelicans, the Blazers have now secured a finish above theSacramento Kings. ThePacersare still theoretically within reach, but they would need to win their next two games. With that being said, the Blazers are all but guaranteed the 6th best odds in the draft and the look towards next season can fully begin.

Drew Eubanks.The Oregon native has had one amazing homecoming this season. His last 15 games have all seen him put up double digit scoring numbers and he has reached that mark 18 times in his last 20 games. He has had 6 double-doubles during that stretch as well. He has played incredibly well for the sinking ship that has been this Blazers season. He has almost definitely played himself into a new contract for next season and will look to continue his tear over the last two games.

What Others Are Saying

Josh Bowe of Mavs Moneyball谈到小牛角色球员在他们blowout of the Pistons.

The Mavericks role players shot a blistering 13-of-22 from three, with four non-Doncic Mavericks making at least two three pointers and three of those four making at least three. Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, Davis Bertans, and Josh Green combined to go 11-of-18 from three.

Doncic finished with 14 assists and he was absolutely on one tonight, throwing dimes to every corner and setting up the Mavericks shooters brilliantly. This type of thing can happen more often if the Mavericks can be more consistent from three, which thankfully the team has been over the last two weeks.

Angelo Guinhawa of ClutchPointstalked about the Mavericks recent woes against bottom of the barrel teams and their win over the Pistons.

他们真的对季后赛球队发挥不好。The latest proof of that? They lost to the Washington Wizards by 32 points last week, only to beat the Milwaukee Bucks two days later.

And who could forget about that horrible 107-77 loss to the New York Knicks earlier in March?

The Mavs just seem to play with little motivation against losing teams, which has bitten them back every time. Against the Pistons, fortunately, they didn’t let that happen and made sure they bounced back after a rather slow start.