Game Thread GAME# 71: MAVERICKS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 20, 2019 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2019-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
DALLAS MAVERICKS
28 - 42
(6-28 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
43 - 27
(26-9 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

JALEN BRUNSON VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

LUKA DONCIC VS JAKE LAYMAN

SF

TIM HARDAWAY Jr. VS MOE HARKLESS

PF

DIRK NOWITZKI VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

DWIGHT POWELL VS JUSUF NURKIC



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------- JERSEYS -------

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PDT), WEDNESDAY, 3/20/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

-------- DALLAS MAVERICKS --------

BURKE , HARRIS , MACON

LEE , BROEKHOFF , FINNEY-SMITH

JACKSON , ANTETOKOUNMPO

KLEBER , MEJRI

---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

CURRY , SIMONS , TURNER

HOOD , TRENT Jr. , LABISSIERE

COLLINS , KANTER , LEONARD



INJURIES
MAVERICKS
Luka Dončić (right knee contusion): PROBABLE
Kristaps Porzingis (left knee): OUT
Jose Juan Barea (right Achilles surgery): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
C.J. McCollum (left leg injury): OUT


HEAD COACHES

- VS –

RICK CARLISLE --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL MAVERICKS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Wednesday’s game marks the fourth and final meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Mavericks during the 2018-19 season. Dallas leads the season series, 2-1.

• LAST MEETING: The Mavericks outscored the Trail Blazers 24-9 in the fourth quarter to claim a 102-101 victory over Portland in Dallas on Feb. 10. Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 28 points (9-19 FG, 4-9 3-PT, 6-8 FT), nine rebounds and six assists while Damian Lillard scored a game-high 30 points (10-23 FG, 6-11 3-PT, 4-4 FT) to go with three rebounds, five assists and two steals.

• In three games against Dallas this season, Damian Lillard has averaged 32.0 points (44.3% FG, 38.5% 3-PT, 96.0% FT), 4.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists.

• Jusuf Nurkic has averaged 12.3 points (64.3% FG, 25.0% FT), 11.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.70 blocks in three games against the Mavericks this season.

• In three games against the Trail Blazers this season, Luka Doncic has averaged 24.0 points (40.7% FG, 40.0% 3-PT, 76.9% FT), 9.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 83-73
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 52-24
AT THE MAVERICKS: Mavericks lead, 49-31

​

 

[Darkwebs]

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS RACE

Portland's Remaining Schedule

Houston's Remaining Schedule

 

[Darkwebs]

This will be Dirk's last game in Portland.

But honestly, who cares? The Blazers are in the thick of the Playoff race, with 8 Western Conference teams jockeying for seeding in the post-season.

The Blazers are currently in 4th, but just one game behind the Rockets for 3rd. Unfortunately, four teams are right at our heels, looking to jump past us. Every game from here on out is a must-win if Portland wants home court advantage in the 1st round of the Playoffs.

It starts with this game. Dallas has beaten the Blazers twice already. Enough losing to this lottery team already. Go get the W, and show no mercy!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Dirk just passed Wilt for 6th place on the all time scoring list. Didn't get anywhere near the attention that LeBron passing Jordan got.

 

[kjironman1]

Not worried about the 3rd seed. Gonna be tough enough holding onto the Fourth seed. Spurs are the problem as well as the Rockets.

 

[Labinot41]

Dirk just passed Wilt for 6th place on the all time scoring list. Didn't get anywhere near the attention that LeBron passing Jordan got.

Not in usa, but here in germany fans went crazy this morning. The german NBA web page has already 5 articles about Dirk passing wilt. He the best european nba player ever. We love him

 

[trailblazer18]

Stotts always wilts to Carlisle.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Not in usa, but here germany fans went crazy this morning. The german NBA web page has already 5 articles about Dirk passing wilt. He the best european nba player ever. We love him

Well, I mean, he's no Uwe Blab, but he's OK...

 

[Chris Craig]

Houston definately has a harder schedule than Portland to end the season. Blazers could get 3rd.

 

[BlazerBeav]

It would be so typical of our luck to get 3rd, only to have the Warriors slip into the 2nd seed so we don't avoid them after all.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It would be so typical of our luck to get 3rd, only to have the Warriors slip into the 2nd seed so we don't avoid them after all.

If the Nuggets are able to navigate their late-season brutal schedule well enough to earn the 1 seed, we should want to avoid them.

Also, I seriously doubt that Portland can catch Houston. Their schedule's basically as soft as ours the rest of the way.

 

[Hoopguru]

We are in the playoffs right now they way everyone is bunched up and trying to gain home court.
I love it when its like this, thats what the NBA is all about.
IMO, when its all over and done, the team that is shooting best wins it all. Even in the playoffs its run & gun anymore.

 

[DDolla]

I want some payback against the Mavs

 

[Chris Craig]

Basketball Wars Episode 25: The Blazers Strike Back

The rule of two stipulates that once a master has taught his apprentice as much as he can, the apprentince must challenge and defeat the master. Stotts has not succeeded often in defeating his master. In fact for the most part Carlisle has handed him his ass.

Carlisle wants this game at all costs. Doncic has averaged 24 against us. Dallas leads 2-1. Blazers better come ready to win.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Carlisle: Very well Grasshopper - you think you can snatch the pebble from my hand, but can you snatch your PG from a half-court trap?

Stotts: silently hangs head and shuffles off into the night.

 

[blazerkor]

I think we win this game and (looking at the schedule) every game until CJ comes back. Every game we play is against a team with a worse record than us and mostly lottery teams until Denver April 5.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think we win this game and (looking at the schedule) every game until CJ comes back. Every game we play is against a team with a worse record than us and mostly lottery teams until Denver April 5.

At Detroit is a likely loss. They've been playing pretty well (14-5 their last 19), it's the 3rd game in 4 nights, all on the road, playing in Atlanta the night before.

 

[blazerkor]

At Detroit is a likely loss. They've been playing pretty well (14-5 their last 19), it's the 3rd game in 4 nights, all on the road, playing in Atlanta the night before.

Them being favored makes sense but I still see it as a winnable game. If we can blow out the Hawks the night before then our starters could be rested.

 

[kjironman1]

Them being favored makes sense but I still see it as a winnable game. If we can blow out the Hawks the night before then our starters could be rested.

I guess your idea of rest and my idea of rest are a bit different. 3 games in 4 nights with the second of a B2B and a flight to Detroit from Atlanta in the middle? Oh and did i mention there was a game at both cities? To me they might as well play because it ain't gonna be any more rest sitting there on the bench.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Damn Dallas has a horrible road record, didn't realize it was that bad. And we have a chance to run up a pretty solid win streak here, lets go!

 

[Cugel]

I didnt realize that my name is luka is leading the mavs in points, boards, and assists. super talented guy. they should be a different team next year.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I guess your idea of rest and my idea of rest are a bit different. 3 games in 4 nights with the second of a B2B and a flight to Detroit from Atlanta in the middle? Oh and did i mention there was a game at both cities? To me they might as well play because it ain't gonna be any more rest sitting there on the bench.

It is a lot more rest though, its not having to be to the arena 3+ hours before the game all the hours warming up and then playing in a NBA level basketball. Its a day where sore muscles could heal if needed.
Sorry if you meant this sarcastically.

 

[kjironman1]

It is a lot more rest though, its not having to be to the arena 3+ hours before the game all the hours warming up and then playing in a NBA level basketball. Its a day where sore muscles could heal if needed.
Sorry if you meant this sarcastically.

Some sarcasm is always there for sure but there is still the fact they are traveling with the team and they will suit up for the game in Atlanta. I cannot see them not show for the shoot around and completely take the game off because a team has a bad record. That is a game they can and probably must get. IMHO there is no unimportant game. I also tend to think in a different way about wins and losses. Go and get the win you should get. If you are gonna rest do it on the second game against the team you are gonna have a tough time against. It would be much less of struggle. Bring in the end of the bench against Detroit if you are gonna rest someone. It works in line with Pops rest games. Seriously. He looks at the schedule and sees a second of a B2B against a tough team in the middle of the rodeo trip and he sits his starters and plays the bench. Done it for years now.

 

[DDolla]

Every team in the West keep on winning so we need this game. We need to win all our home games.

 

[THE HCP]

Every team in the West keep on winning so we need this game. We need to win all our home games.

Just curious why you and others think this. I don’t know what we have to do. What if we keep winning and a team we really match up poorly with keeps losing and we play them. This time of the season is such a crap shoot. I guess you want to get most wins you can. I always get confused this last few weeks on who we are rooting for to win or lose. HCA doesn’t necessarily help this squad does it?

 

[illmatic99]

Just curious why you and others think this. I don’t know what we have to do. What if we keep winning and a team we really match up poorly with keeps losing and we play them. This time of the season is such a crap shoot. I guess you want to get most wins you can. I always get confused this last few weeks on who we are rooting for to win or lose. HCA doesn’t necessarily help this squad does it?

26-9 at home.
17-18 on the road.

Fairly obvious that this team (the bench especially) needs HCA. Granted, it's very easy to win or lose HCA in the first two games, but we need to win Game 1 regardless of who we play. That will do wonders to the confidence. Moreso than that, it's about building good habits right now along with resting Dame/Nurk. Losing to a tanking Mavs at home now would not be a good sign.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I still think we end up with the 5th seed.

 

[illmatic99]

I still think we end up with the 5th seed.

Agreed, I can see Utah finishing the season at worst 10-2. Think they leapfrog us. They have such an easy remaining schedule.

 

[Strenuus]

26-9 at home.
17-18 on the road.

Fairly obvious that this team (the bench especially) needs HCA. Granted, it's very easy to win or lose HCA in the first two games, but we need to win Game 1 regardless of who we play. That will do wonders to the confidence. Moreso than that, it's about building good habits right now along with resting Dame/Nurk. Losing to a tanking Mavs at home now would not be a good sign.

Though, what's the goal? 500 on the road, win most at home. I'd say we've been doing good.

Now the playoffs....

 

[illmatic99]

Though, what's the goal? 500 on the road, win most at home. I'd say we've been doing good.

Now the playoffs....

Not sure what you're trying to say. @ThePosterFormerlyKnownAsTheHCP was asking if HCA is important. For this team, the answer unambiguously is yes.