Portland Trail Blazers vs Dallas Mavericks Picks and Predictions December 29th

The Dallas Mavericks head to the Moda Center to face the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, December 29, 2025 at 11:00 PM. Dallas is 12-21 and it has been a rough season away from home at 3-12. Jason Kidd’s group is also on a two-game losing streak, so this is a spot where they need a sharper start than what we’ve seen lately.

Portland comes in at 13-19 and just beat the Celtics 114-108, which is the kind of win that can stabilize a young team for a week or two. Shaedon Sharpe led the way with 26 points, and Deni Avdija filled up the box score with 24 points, 10 assists, and seven boards. The Blazers are 6-9 at home, so it’s not exactly a safe auto-bet, but the energy is different when they’re playing in their building. This one is on NBC, and the market is pricing it like a coin flip.

Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trail Blazers Odds

These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers and movement on the latest NBA odds.

Team	Moneyline	Spread	Total
Dallas Mavericks	-102	+1.5 (-110)	O 236.5 (-110)
Portland Trail Blazers	-119	-1.5 (-110)	U 236.5 (-110)

Dallas Mavericks Betting Form

Dallas is playing fast, ranking fourth in possessions per game, which usually means you get more scoring chances and more swingy outcomes. That can be frustrating when you’re backing them on the road because the mistakes add up quicker, but from a betting angle it also keeps them live in tight spreads. They don’t need a perfect game to hang around.

The defensive profile is the more interesting part. Dallas has been elite at taking away the three-point line, allowing the fewest made threes per game and holding opponents to 33.3 percent from deep, best in the league. That’s a real identity, not just noise, and it matters against teams that need perimeter rhythm to keep the floor spaced. If Dallas can force Portland into tougher twos and finish possessions with rebounds, the +1.5 starts to look like the right kind of number.

Offensively, Cooper Flagg has carried a lot of the creation load, and the 23-point, 6-rebound, 5-assist night against Sacramento was another example. P.J. Washington’s secondary scoring helps, and when Anthony Davis is available the whole matchup changes because it raises Dallas’ ceiling on both ends. You can track how Dallas has been performing across recent games and markets on the Dallas Mavericks stats and results. Availability matters here, so monitor the Dallas Mavericks injury report before tipoff, especially with Davis and other rotation pieces carrying day-to-day tags.

Portland Trail Blazers Betting Form

Portland’s win over Boston was a strong example of what they want to be. Sharpe brings the scoring punch, Avdija can steady the offense when things get messy, and Donovan Clingan’s 18 points and 18 rebounds showed how dangerous they can be when they own the paint. Portland’s rebounding has been a consistent strength, ranking ninth at 45.2 boards per game, and that’s one of the cleaner ways they can tilt a close game at home.

The Blazers’ offense has been productive overall, averaging 116.6 points per game, and the free-throw volume is a real edge. They rank fourth in free throws made per game, which is a big deal in a near pick’em because it protects them during cold shooting stretches and it slows the game into a whistle-heavy script when they’re protecting a lead. The flip side is that their defense can give up clean looks and they can get stuck chasing if the opponent avoids fouls and hits threes.

This handicap depends heavily on who’s actually available, because Portland has had nights where the rotation is thin and the minutes are volatile. For form, splits, and game logs, the Portland Trail Blazers schedule and stats page is the quickest snapshot. Availability matters here too, so keep an eye on the Portland Trail Blazers injury report before you lock anything in.

Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trail Blazers Matchup Breakdown

This game sets up as pace versus pressure. Dallas wants possessions, it’s how they create edge when their half-court execution isn’t perfect. Portland is comfortable running too, but their best path is turning those possessions into rim attacks, free throws, and extra chances on the glass. If Portland is living at the line and winning the rebounding margin, it’s hard for Dallas to separate.

The key tactical clash is Dallas’ three-point suppression against Portland’s shot creation. Dallas has been great at limiting opponent threes, both in volume and efficiency, which forces teams into more drives and midrange attempts. Portland can survive that if they’re finishing at the rim and drawing contact, but if the whistle is tighter or the finishing isn’t clean, their offense can stall. That’s when Dallas’ ability to get out in transition off misses becomes a problem.

Turnovers also matter more than usual in this spread range. Dallas plays fast, which naturally brings risk, but Portland’s young lineups can get loose with the ball when they speed up. A couple of live-ball turnovers that turn into quick points can swing both the side and the total. If you want a deeper framework for reading these pace and shot profile matchups from a betting lens, the NBA betting guide is a solid reference.

Dallas Mavericks vs Portland Trail Blazers Predictions and Best Bets

My lean is Dallas +1.5. Portland deserves respect off the Boston win, and they have a clear advantage path with free throws and rebounding, but the number is tight enough that matchup details matter more than vibes. Dallas’ ability to take away the three-point line is a strong counter, and it gives them a way to keep Portland from getting comfortable.

I also think Dallas is the side that benefits if this turns into a one-possession, late-game grind. That sounds strange for a team that’s 3-12 on the road, but the market is already accounting for that. At +1.5, you’re not asking Dallas to be great. You’re asking them to be competitive, defend without breaking, and avoid the disaster quarter.

On the total, 236.5 is high, and it’s priced like we’re getting a clean, efficient game from both teams. Portland can score, and Dallas’ pace invites possessions, so I get the logic. But if Dallas is truly running Portland off threes and this turns into a free-throw and rebound battle, the rhythm can get choppy and the scoring can come in clusters instead of a steady stream. Late fouling is always the risk, but this number feels a bit inflated for two teams that can play sloppy stretches.

The one thing that can flip this quickly is availability, especially in the frontcourt. If Dallas is compromised inside, Portland’s rebounding and rim pressure become more than a lean, it becomes a matchup problem. If Dallas gets reasonable availability, I think the spread value stays on the Mavericks.

Best Bet: Dallas Mavericks +1.5 (-110).

NBA Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

If you’re betting the NBA every day, you already know the season is too long to rely on gut feel. You need volume, consistent coverage, and a way to compare opinions without bouncing all over the place. That’s the value of checking today’s NBA picks and building a card based on numbers, matchups, and price, not just who looked good last game.

It also helps to have one hub where you can move quickly from matchup to matchup when lines change. The main NBA teams page makes it easier to track form and context across the league without overthinking it.

And if you’re mixing nightly bets with a longer view, futures can create value windows when the market overreacts to a short run or one injury headline. Keeping tabs on NBA championship odds and predictions can help you spot those moments, even if most of your action is still sides and totals.