Dallas Mavericks versus Portland Trail Blazers: NBA Play-off Game 5 Preview
With both sides winning twice on their home court, the greatly anticipated best of seven first round play-off series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail
Blazers is tied at 2-2. The next big encounter is scheduled on Monday night at American Airlines Centre, in Dallas.
The Blazers have come back in the series with two straight triumphs over the Mavericks and will be determined to carry their astonishing winning form further into the next
game. Although, the Mavericks started this post season’s play-off campaign as clear favourites and won the two first games but, the resurgent Trail Blazers have stung them hard in the last two games. In doing so, they have effectively thrown the series wide
open.
On Thursday night at the Rose Garden, the Blazers drew first blood when they outshone the Mavericks 97-92. Guard Wesley Matthews posted 25 points in that game. The Blazers
kept the winning approach intact two nights later as Brandon Roy thundered off the bench to out-class the Mavericks once again. Trailing by double figures going into the fourth quarter, Roy erupted with 18 points as the Trail Blazers scorched the Mavs 84-82.
These two consecutive losses left many Mavericks’ players frustrated especially their power forward Dirk Nowitzki. Talking to the media, Nowitzki said, “Frustration is
definitely at a high level, there is a huge difference from being up 3-1 and 2-2. This is definitely up there with the most frustrating losses.”
The Mavericks’ Jason Kidd on the other seemed much optimistic Although shattered at the loss, the veteran swingman said, “One of the toughest losses I've ever been involved
in, but we can still win the series, and that's where our focus has to be, we have to stay together and get home and come out Monday with the same focus and intensity as we did today. Then we just have to finish.”
The Dallas Mavericks have qualified into the play-offs as third seeded from the Western Conference while the Portland Trail Blazers approached the next round by grabbing
the 6th position.
Although all the momentum is with the Trail Blazers as the team head into Monday night’s showdown, the Mavericks are hosting the Blazers this time around and the home court
advantage will certainly play a vital role in the game. The Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki also spoke about this home advantage factor when he said, “We just have to stay positive, Two out of three we’re at home, where our crowd has really carried us, especially
in the fourth quarter in the two wins that we got. This is going to sting; this is going to hurt, but we worked hard all through the regular season to get those two at home.”
Despite of the brilliant performance in the recent two games by the Portland Trail Blazers the Dallas Mavericks are still a completive side. They will not be giving the
Blazers any easy loop-holes to destroy their aspirations to win the NBA title this fall.
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