Having just played yesterday, the Portland Trail Blazers will head out on the road to face off against the Dallas Mavericks at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday at American Airlines Center. The two teams worked hard to overcome the odds in their previous battles and are surely both feeling confident heading into this clash.

Now, beating the Trail Blazers in a close contest typically wouldn't be something to boast about, but Dallas is without both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who are sidelined with i

T he Dallas Mavericks used a late 16-0 run to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 117-111 on Thursday night, making this the first time Dallas has won consecutive games with Kyrie Irv

Thursday’s NBA schedule includes the Dallas Mavericks (21-16) playing at home against Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers (13-23) at American Airlines Center. The game starts at 8:30

The Blazers have won two of their last three including a 119-100 win last night in New Orleans against the Pelicans. Deni Avdija led Portland with 26 points. The Mavericks smacked the Lakers 118-97 in Dallas Tuesday night. No Luka. No Kyrie. No Problem. Quentin Grimes has 23 off the bench for the Mavs.

The Dallas Mavericks sought a two-game winning streak, and so did the Portland Trail Blazers, as the two West teams entered Thursday night’s game. The Mavericks defeated the Trail Blazers 117-111 at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night.

A fan uses a haptic device from OneCourt during a Portland Trail Blazers NBA basketball game. (Portland Trail Blazers Photo) The Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers sport the fifth-worst defensive rating in the NBA, and the matchup will be particularly favorable for Grimes. Portland has allowed opposing SGs to average 35.8 PRAs this season.

It is a week Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez had circled since the NBA schedule came out in August, consecutive games against the Los Angeles teams and the opportunity to reconnect with so many elements of his past.

In the tumultuous landscape of the NBA season, third-year guard Max Christie's journey with the Los Angeles Lakers has been a testament to patience and strategic foresight.

Dallas ends game on huge run; outscore Blazers, 36-22 in 4Q. End game on 18-2 run over last 4:24 of game to win 117-111. Dallas moves to 22-16 with the second straight win as the Blazers move to 13-24.