Clash at Moda Center: Portland Trail Blazers Host Dallas Mavericks
As the Portland Trail Blazers prepare to host the Dallas Mavericks at the Moda Center, fans are bracing for what promises to be an electrifying matchup. The Trail Blazers, despite their recent struggles, have shown flashes of brilliance that suggest they could turn their season around.
In their last encounter with the Mavericks on December 9th, the Blazers fell short by a mere 13 points in a game where they were unable to take the lead even once. However, it's worth noting that Portland managed an impressive 22 fast break points and capitalized on second-chance opportunities with 23 points from such plays. Their three-point shooting was decent at 34 percent but will need to improve if they want to compete with a team like Dallas.
The Mavericks come into this game after demonstrating strong offensive capabilities in their previous matchups, including a significant win against Portland earlier this month. They've been leading comfortably in most of their games and have shown efficiency both inside the paint and beyond the arc.
However, there's reason for optimism among Trail Blazers fans. In a recent game against Utah Jazz on December 15th at Moda Center, POR showcased resilience by racking up an impressive 38 points in the fourth quarter alone. This kind of late-game surge is indicative of what this team can do when pushed against the wall.
Moreover, POR's bench has been nothing short of remarkable; contributing a whopping 66 points during that same game against Utah Jazz shows depth that could be pivotal against DAL's defense. If players like Anfernee Simons continue delivering from downtown as he did with his outstanding performance on December 12th against LA Clippers where he contributed significantly to POR’s total score of 127 points – then we might just see an upset brewing.
Defensively though is where POR needs serious work; allowing too many points in paint and failing to contain opponents' fast breaks has been their Achilles heel all season long. They'll need more than just hustle; strategic defensive adjustments are crucial if they hope to contain DAL’s dynamic offense.
The upcoming battle will test whether POR can leverage its home-court advantage and passionate fan support to disrupt DAL’s rhythm and secure a much-needed victory for morale and standings alike.
Fans should mark their calendars for December 17th when these two teams face off at Moda Center starting at 6:00 PM PST (9:00 PM EST). The action will be broadcasted live on ROOT Sports NW (channel number:687) for home viewers or BSSW (channel number:676) for those cheering from Dallas territory – ensuring no one misses out on what promises to be an enthralling contest between these Western Conference rivals.