(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers – Dallas leads series 1-0
The Dallas Mavericks’ attempt to win just their second playoff series since their 2006 NBA Finals run continues tonight in Dallas, as the Mavs look to take a 2-0 lead on the Portland Trail Blazers. Portland will try to rebound from a difficult ending that saw them squander a six-point fourth-quarter lead to fall by eight. That fourth quarter was the focus after the game, as Nate McMillan was fined $35,000 for questioning the way the quarter was called. Dallas attempted 19 free throws (and made 18) in the quarter, while the Blazers attempted just two.
Officiating remains the focal point entering Game 2, as Danny Crawford has been summoned to call the game. Crawford’s crews have called 16 straight playoff losses for Dallas, with their last win dating back over a decade to Mark Cuban’s first full season in charge in 2001, when Dallas upset the Utah Jazz in a five-game series.
For the Mavericks’ part, they are not playing into the notion that Crawford’s presence is a negative. Rick Carlisle called Crawford a great official and said that he did not see it as a factor, and team “insiders” whispered today that they expect Crawford to be on his toes so that he does not further the image that he calls games against a specific team.
On the injury front, Dallas does not expect Rodrigue Beaubois available as he recovers from rolling his ankle in the team’s season finale against New Orleans.
You can see the game on TNT and locally on TXA 21 at 8:30 CT. Be sure to check out Mavs Moneyball to release your game stress with other fans, and don’t forget to bring your Danny Crawford dart board.