Portland at Dallas

Portland is not a reliable favorite. The Trail Blazers are 0-3-1 ATS the past four times they've been chalk. Dallas has looked better in three of its past four games defeating the Wizards, losing to the Bucks by two points and falling to the Clippers in overtime two days ago. The Mavericks are the stronger defensive team ranking 13th in points allowed, giving up 115.8 points a game. They are sixth in 3-point defense. Portland ranks 22nd defensively surrendering 120.8 points per contest and is 26th in defensive field goal percentage. The Trail Blazers also are below average in defensive rebounding and struggle with turnovers. Scoring has been a problem for Dallas, which ranks 27th in points per game. Against the Clippers, though, the Mavericks got 28 points apiece from D’Angelo Russell and unsung Naji Marshall in his first start of the season. Anthony Davis remains day-to-day, but the Mavericks get back big man Dereck Lively II, who had missed nine games with a right knee sprain. No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg has been playing better, too, for Dallas after a slow start. Take the Mavericks.