Game Thread GAME# 78: BLAZERS @ MAVERICKS - APRIL 3, 2018 - TUESDAY, 5:30 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
48 - 29
(21-16 Road)
DALLAS MAVERICKS
23 - 54
(14-25 Home)

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_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS DENNIS SMITH Jr.

SG

C.J. McCOLLUM VS DORIAN FINNEY-SMITH

SF

EVAN TURNER VS HARRISON BARNES

PF

AL-FAROUQ AMINU VS DIRK NOWITZKI

C

JUSUF NURKIC VS DWIGHT POWELL

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WHEN: 5:30 PM, TUESDAY, 4/3/2018

WHERE: AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALLAS, TX

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

NAPIER , BALDWIN IV , CONNAUGHTON

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN , COLLINS

LEONARD , PAPAGIANNIS


- DALLAS MAVERICKS-

BAREA , FERRELL , COLLINSWORTH

HARRISON , JONES , McDERMOTT

MOTLEY , KLEBER

NOEL , MEJRI


INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Ed Davis (right ankle sprain): DOUBTFUL
Moe Harkless (left knee arthroscopy): OUT
C.J. Wilcox (G-League): OUT
MAVERICKS
Salah Mejri (right knee bruise): QUESTIONABLE
Wesley Matthews (right proximal fibula fracture): DOUBTFUL
Seth Curry (stress reaction, left tibia): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- RICK CARLISLE

OFFICIAL MAVERICKS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Tuesday’s game marks the third and final regular season game between the Trail Blazers and the Mavericks during the 2017-18 season. Portland leads the season series, 2-0, and can sweep the season series for the first time since the 1998-99 season.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers outrebounded the Mavericks, 54-37, and forced Dallas into 39.3% shooting from the field while securing a 107-93 road victory on Jan. 26. Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 29 points (9-18 FG, 3-8 3-PT, 8-11 FT) while Harrison Barnes paced the Mavericks with 21 points and seven rebounds.

• In two games against the Mavericks this season, Damian Lillard has averaged 30.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists. He has scored at least 25 points in eight of his last nine games against Dallas.

• CJ McCollum had 20 points, four rebounds and five assists against Dallas on Jan. 26. McCollum has averaged 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in two games against the Mavericks this season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 82-70
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 51-24
AT THE MAVERICKS: Mavericks lead, 46-31

​

 

[TBpup]

a MUST win to start the 4-game road trip.

 

[blazerkor]

This is a game I know our guys will get up for. Starting off the last road trip, jockeying for playoff position and getting home court. I think Dame, CJ and Nurk will dominate their match ups and lead the team to victory. Go Blazers!!!

 

[KingSpeed]

a MUST win to start the 4-game road trip.

Every game is must win

 

[BonesJones]

Every game is must win

No, it's not. We don't need to win every game to win the 3 seed. Winning the easiest game is important, because it gives a little bit of leeway over the rest of the season. A loss here means the game against San Antonio is monumental, which isn't good.

The San Antonio game will probably be most important, but this one's next.

 

[DDolla]

Just Win Blazers!

 

[TBpup]

Every game is must win

Then every season is doomed to failure.

 

[BrunoSOC]

Need to start the road trip solid, this is a must win game.

 

[kjironman1]

Every game is must win

I agree. But not every game needs to be won.

 

[Scalma]

Do we even want the third seed? I don’t wanna play Utah.

 

[Scalma]

I think we’re destined to play OKC. Reminds me of a couple of seasons ago when we matched up with the clippers.

 

[e_blazer]

That is a mean-spirited question in the OP.

The correct answer is the Palmer Glacier on Mt. Hood.

 

[BonesJones]

Do we even want the third seed? I don’t wanna play Utah.

I definitely want to play Utah. Gotta develop the mindset of a 3 seed. We really shouldn't wnt the 3 seed because of Utah...?

They wouldn't beat us at home. The rookie will struggle.

 

[Scalma]

I definitely want to play Utah. Gotta develop the mindset of a 3 seed. We really shouldn't wnt the 3 seed because of Utah...?

They wouldn't beat us at home. The rookie will struggle.

Would be the first time he did against Portland. He gets up for games against the Blazers. He’s boys with Lillard and we also passed on him. Oh and he’ll be guarded by CJ...

And Portland just doesn’t match up well against Utah and seemingly always struggles playing in their building. I want to advance. If we can avoid them we should.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Do we even want the third seed? I don’t wanna play Utah.

 

[Strenuus]

I definitely want to play Utah. Gotta develop the mindset of a 3 seed. We really shouldn't wnt the 3 seed because of Utah...?

They wouldn't beat us at home. The rookie will struggle.

I agree with this. I have Mitchell on my fantasy team, and sure he can get his numbers.. but his shooting % is not all that great (I actually don't know his overall %, but I've seen enough 4/15's and 5/17's to make a good educated guess), I just think in the playoffs that's going to get magnified.

Gobert on the other hand.. Man, that nurk/gobert is gonna be some good popcorn eatin!

 

[BonesJones]

Would be the first time he did against Portland. He gets up for games against the Blazers. He’s boys with Lillard and we also passed on him. Oh and he’ll be guarded by CJ...

And Portland just doesn’t match up well against Utah and seemingly always struggles playing in their building. I want to advance. If we can avoid them we should.

Playoffs are a different animal. You and I know that. We have experience, he doesn't.

The last time we played them in their building, they were on an 11 game winning streak, and we blew them out.

It's time to stop thinking like an underdog.

 

[KingSpeed]

Would be the first time he did against Portland. He gets up for games against the Blazers. He’s boys with Lillard and we also passed on him. Oh and he’ll be guarded by CJ...

And Portland just doesn’t match up well against Utah and seemingly always struggles playing in their building. I want to advance. If we can avoid them we should.

We beat them by 19 in our last game there and Dame's career high was against Utah.

 

[BonesJones]

We beat them by 19 in our last game there and Dame's career high was against Utah.

The second point... Smh.

It was against a Utah team playing a lot of guys that won't be playing in this playoff series. A Utah team that was hurt and injured. A Utah team that wasn't from this year.

This isn't a valid point at all.

 

[joeBlazers]

If you don't want the Jazz, who do you want?
OKC?
T-Wolfes?
I wanted the Pelicans ... but they are fading very fast. I want OKC vs Warriors or OKC vs Houston.
I don't think there will be an easy matchup. We just need to get our guys ready to grind for 4 games to get us through. Last year, CJ and Dame balled the first game, then the team quit afterwards.
Regardless of who we play, I want Dame and CJ to average 40 each in the playoffs ... ha ha ha .. joking. OK, not 40 ... but close.

 

[Scalma]

If you don't want the Jazz, who do you want?
OKC?
T-Wolfes?
I wanted the Pelicans ... but they are fading very fast. I want OKC vs Warriors or OKC vs Houston.
I don't think there will be an easy matchup. We just need to get our guys ready to grind for 4 games to get us through. Last year, CJ and Dame balled the first game, then the team quit afterwards.
Regardless of who we play, I want Dame and CJ to average 40 each in the playoffs ... ha ha ha .. joking. OK, not 40 ... but close.

Jazz are the only team I don’t think we match up well against. The other teams don’t worry me.

 

[KingSpeed]

The second point... Smh.

It was against a Utah team playing a lot of guys that won't be playing in this playoff series. A Utah team that was hurt and injured. A Utah team that wasn't from this year.

This isn't a valid point at all.

Um Jazz were battling for HCA when Dame dropped 59 on them.

 

[KingSpeed]

Jazz are the only team I don’t think we match up well against. The other teams don’t worry me.

How do we not match up with them?

 

[Scalma]

How do we not match up with them?

Great defensive team, shoot a bunch of threes, pretty much the only playoff team that has someone that could neutralize Nurkic.

 

[KingSpeed]

Great defensive team, shoot a bunch of threes, pretty much the only playoff team that has someone that could neutralize Nurkic.

We're great at defense and shoot threes and we're the only playoff team that has someone that could neutralize Gobert.

 

[Scalma]

We're great at defense and shoot threes and we're the only playoff team that has someone that could neutralize Gobert.

You made a nice case as to why that series would go 7.

Exactly my point.

 

[KingSpeed]

You made a nice case as to why that series would go 7.

Exactly my point.

Your point was that we'd lose to them and I disagree. I think we'd win in 5.

 

[BonesJones]

Um Jazz were battling for HCA when Dame dropped 59 on them.

Ok? That was last year. They were without Hayward and Mitchell was in college. That doesn't apply.

 

[TBpup]

Blazers need bench help? That DiVincenzo kid sure put up a performance off the bench. 31 points 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in the Natty!

 

[KingSpeed]

Ok? That was last year. They were without Hayward and Mitchell was in college. That doesn't apply.

They were NOT without Hayward. Hayward played and they were fighting for HCA:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201704080POR.html

Utah probably fears Lillard. And yes, Mitchell was in college while Dame was dominating in NBA. Do you seriously fear Mitchell over Lillard?