Mavs Moneyball - Gameday: Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail BlazersRick Carlisle approved.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50869/mmb-fav.png2017-02-07T22:10:43-06:00http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/rss/stream/142980872017-02-07T22:10:43-06:002017-02-07T22:10:43-06:003 things as Portland stuns Dallas, 114-113
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<img alt="NBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kB3qFQPQl4EvRAtV8Qm0fQXadfE=/0x260:3826x2811/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53142175/usa_today_9865242.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This one hurts.</p> <p id="6L8ZjW">It was a thriller in Dallas tonight, as the Blazers and Mavs played another close one featuring some mega-runs, long bombs, and traded daggers. Unfortunately, the good guys came up short at the end of a dizzying final few minutes.</p>
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<p id="SURhMZ"><strong>MCCOLLUM RUINS DIRK’S VINTAGE NIGHT</strong></p>
<p id="Ir8Nu8">Dirk Nowitzki had taken on more of the “decoy” role lately, but after a slow start, the future Hall of Famer got it cooking in the second half, and nailed a pair of clutch threes late, both putting Dallas back in front. He finished with 25 points on 7-16 shooting, his first double-digit scoring night in five games, and his highest point total in almost a month. C.J. McCollum had every answer, however, and finished with a game-high 32.</p>
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<p id="zHwuHY"><strong>WES AND BARNES ALSO DOING WORK</strong></p>
<p id="bPPkm2">Dirk was one of three Mavs to score at least 23, with Wes Matthews and Harrison Barnes combining for 49 points. Unfortunately, Seth Curry had one of his rare off nights since being inserted into the starting lineup. He was held scoreless in the first quarter, left the game with an apparent injury, and was fairly ineffective after returning. He finished with just 4 points and was a game-low -16.</p>
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<p id="b13Rhg"><strong>HOW WILL DALLAS RESPOND</strong></p>
<p id="RdAHXb">After getting within shouting distance of the Nuggets and Blazers, the Mavs drop a game to each in back to back nights, missing an opportunity to really get back into the playoff chase. Still only two and a half games back, they’ll take on the Jazz Thursday, then go for three games against East teams(Orlando, Boston, Detroit) before heading into the All-Star Break. What will their record and their roster look like after that?</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2017/2/7/14544472/3-things-as-portland-stuns-dallas-114-113Ian_Miller2017-02-07T10:41:14-06:002017-02-07T10:41:14-06:003 keys to re-beating the Portland Blazers
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<img alt="NBA: Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XSueykSEkgLK6V5qJZPLHXxrhcI=/0x0:3610x2407/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53127573/usa_today_9856653.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We’re just gonna pretend last night didn’t happen.</p> <p id="BGzh51">The <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Mavericks</a> will re-play the <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/">Portland Trail Blazers</a> in their regular season series finale just after beating them 108-104 in Portland on Saturday. The 22-30 Blazers are in ninth place in the playoff race, just behind the <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a> and just ahead of the Mavericks. All three teams are likely to be in the playoff race to the end, and a win tonight gives the Mavericks a 3-1 edge against the Trailblazers should there be a tiebreaker.</p>
<p id="j7MAyX">It won’t be easy as the Mavericks play their third back to back in two weeks. Oh wait, did they play last night? I forget. Here’s some keys to the game:</p>
<h4 id="khjMcb"><strong>Yogi-mania continues</strong></h4>
<p id="hjlGwg"><span>Yogi Ferrell</span> has made it to a new contract. Congrats on the two-year deal, may your arrow only go up and to the right, Yogi prince. His last game against the Blazers made national news with Yogi knocking nine of 11 from deep.</p>
<p id="9qJE5s">Splashy treys aside, his all-around game and the team’s lack of point guard depth has let him play 38 minutes a game as a Maverick. He has a sparkling five assists to 1.6 turnovers ratio and has been an attacker on the ball with 1.8 steals per game. <span>Deron Williams</span> may be back from a lingering toe injury tonight, but a good first game in his new contract would be a good sign for more Yogi-mania.</p>
<h4 id="znfmtV"><strong>Another Wesley revenge game</strong></h4>
<p id="DXUd6c"><span>Wesley Matthews</span> has been playing a strong game over the last two weeks, even overcoming a two-game absence due to a hip injury. He’s diversified his offensive game with <span>Seth Curry</span> and Yogi in the lineup, and although his recent triples per game are down to 1.8 from a season average of 2.8, he’s offset that with sharper shooting from the field and the line to average 17 points per game.</p>
<p id="AVdIkx">He took it up a notch against his old team on Saturday, scoring 27 points on 17 shots and going 8-9 from the free-throw line. His usage rate was 30 percent, so playing his old team is just another game and isn’t special at all. Ahem, really.</p>
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<span><strong>Damian Lillard</strong></span><strong> sees another poor game</strong>
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<p id="UnYcSI">While Yogi had his coming out party on Saturday, Lillard shot 20 percent from the field and also failed to convert on a final chance to tie when Seth Curry shut him out. Lillard gets a quick chance to even the score against Yogi-mania tonight in Dallas. His shot came back on Sunday against the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a> as he scored 29 points on 22 shots. He did tweak his ankle in the fourth, but he’s definitely going to play against Yogi tonight.</p>
<h4 id="VuMEi1"><strong>How to watch</strong></h4>
<p id="spG4dL">The game tips off at 7:30pm Central on Fox Sports Southwest and NBA League Pass.</p>
https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2017/2/7/14526630/dallas-mavericks-portland-trailblazers-keys-to-the-game-how-to-watchMichael Chang