Ala Hann Sport picks

If Masters 2010 odds are as close as the Western playoff race is right now, then players will have a tough time selecting a winner. On Friday, Dallas will head to Portland, and both are facing battles at the opposite end of the playoff spectrum.

Mavericks vs Trailblazers odds – Friday, April 9, 10:00 PM ET

The Mavericks snapped a two-game skid with a 110-84 rout of Memphis at home on Wednesday, and Dallas started and ended strong, outscoring the Grizzlies 65-38 in the first and fourth quarters. Caron Butler was one of six Mavericks in double figures with 23 points, while Dirk Nowitzki was next with 22 points for Dallas, who shot an outlandish 55.3% from the field, and they harassed the Trailblazers into 19 turnovers. The Mavericks’ bench outscored their Memphis counterparts 49-7, and if the subs play that well in the playoffs, Dallas will be a top NBA betting consideration for the postseason. The problem is consistency on the defensive end, where the Mavericks have been shaky down the stretch.

The Trailblazers have now won two straight and eight of their last 10 overall after a 93-85 win in Los Angeles over the Clippers on Wednesday, led by 27 points and 12 boards from LaMarcus Aldridge, who has picked up his game lately. Brandon Roy had 23 points for the Trailblazers, who outrebounded the Clippers 40-34, and they now sit in sixth place in the West, but San Antonio and Oklahoma City are also right there. The Trailblazers could have easily given up on this season after a number of injuries, especially to their big men, but they never gave up, and they could end up playing the Mavericks in the playoffs now.

Sports book odds should have the Trailblazers as the favorites at home, but the Mavericks have won seven of their last 10 games in Portland, even though they fell 101-89 at the Rose Garden on March 25^th. The Trailblazers have won all three meetings with the Mavericks this season, and Portland will be happy to go for the season sweep on their homecourt. However, Butler is starting to mesh better with the Mavericks, and even though he hasn’t been scoring as many points, he’s hitting the boards, which frees up Nowitzki to get in position for a good shot. The Trailblazers have been heroic all season, but they’ve also been streaky, and while they’re hot right now, their two-game winning streak has come at the expense of Sacramento and the Clippers. Dallas owner Mark Cuban recently said that his team is ready for the playoffs, and they’ll want to make a statement against a possible opponent on Friday.

Online sports betting pick: Dallas

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