Let’s scan the lines in search of value as the Dallas Mavericks hit the road, having lost four of their last five, with any talk of a steady climb back toward .500 quietly shelved — possibly for a good long while. Dallas is banged up, directionless, and stuck in that uncomfortable middle ground where wins don’t mean much and losses don’t yet force clarity. Nights like this, late on the West Coast against a modest opponent, tend to expose exactly where a team is emotionally as much as analytically.
Game Fixture
Game Fixture
Dallas Mavericks (12–21, 3–11 Away) at Portland Trail Blazers (13–19, 6–9 Home)
Tipoff: Monday, Dec. 29, 2025 — as of 11:30 a.m. CST
Location: Moda Center, Portland, OR
Broadcast: NBC / Peacock
DraftKings Odds (as of Dec. 29):
Spread: POR -3.5 (DAL +3.5)
Total: 231.5 (O -110 / U -110)
Moneyline: DAL +120 / POR -142
Public Betting Splits: 55% DAL / 45% POR (initial snapshot — may shift with AD news)
Side and Total Leans:
Under 231.5 (-115)
Portland ML (-142)
Player Props
Cooper Flagg over 23.5 points (-109)
Having finished with 23 versus the Kings, Flagg nearly recovered from a scoreless first quarter to beat this exact number. While Davis’ props are on the board, I would be somewhat surprised to see the Maverick center play in this one. Let’s give Cooper another shot to go over this line versus a less-than-stellar defense.
Max Christie over 1.5 3PM (-152)
This is a steep line to take but Portland sits in the middle of the pack in three-point defense. Backing Max here to make them pay for any open looks.
Donovan Clingan over 11.5 rebounds (-126)
Clingan is a massive human with rebound numbers on the rise recently. If Davis is announced as a scratch for this one, this line may spike to 12.5 – grabbing it now with confidence.
