PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (27-53) AT MAVERICKS (50-30)Jalen

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: BSSW

Radio: The Eagle, 97.1 FM; Univision 99.1 FM (Spanish)

About the Mavericks: With only two games remaining in the regular season, the Mavs still have a lot left to play for. A win tonight against the Blazers will secure home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Even if the Mavs lose tonight, they still will have home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs if Utah loses its home game tonight against Phoenix. . .The Mavs also remain in the running to nab the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed. If the Mavs defeat Portland tonight and win Sunday’s home game against San Antonio, they will grab the third seed if the Golden State Warriors lose one of their remaining two games – both on the road – in San Antonio on Saturday and in New Orleans on Sunday. The third seed also goes to the Mavs if they split their last two games and the Warriors lose their last two games. . .The Mavs were adamant about re-establishing a home court advantage this season while making American Airlines Center an uncomfortable place for opponents to play. Mission accomplished. The Mavs have compiled a 27-12 record at home this season. That’s the most home wins they’ve accumulated since they were 27-14 during the 2014-’15 season. . .The Mavs are 20 games over .500 for the first time since they finished the 2010-’11 season with a 57-25 record. . .Defensively, the Mavs are second in the NBA in the fewest points allowed at 104.9 ppg. In their 42-year history, the Mavs have never finished better than fourth in the fewest points allowed. . .The Mavs are 15-5 in their last 20 games. . .Jalen Brunson is shooting Dwight50.3 percent from the field this season. That’s the highest among guards this season.

About the Trail Blazers: Season-ending abdominal surgery to guard Damian Lillard, coupled with the trading of guard CJ McCollum, sent the Blazers into a rebuilding mode where they’re mostly playing young players under first-year coach Chauncey Billups. . .Portland’s 27 wins are the fewest for the Blazers since they finished the 2005-’06 season with a 21-61 record. They also were 28-38 in the ’11-’12 campaign in a season that was shorten by 16 games due to the NBA lockout. . .The Blazers’ eight straight years of advancing to the playoffs came to a halt this season. They entered this season with a playoff ticket being punched in 11 of their previous 13 seasons. . .The Blazers are 0-2 against the Mavs this season, and both games were played in Portland. Back on Dec. 27 in a game Luka Doncic missed due to the health and safety protocols, the Mavs defeated the Blazers, 132-117, behind 34 points from Kristaps Porzingis and 22 points from Dwight Powell. The Mavs shot 57.1 percent from the field in that game. Lillard led the Blazers with 26 points. . .On Jan. 26, Doncic registered a triple-double (15 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists) as the Mavs shot 54.5 percent from the floor and beat Portland, 132-112. The Mavs led that game, 40-25, after the first quarter. . .The Blazers have lost 19 of their last 21 games. They enter tonight’s game after losing in New Orleans on Thursday, 127-94, in a game Portland shot 52.2 percent from the field. Drew Eubanks (20 points, five rebounds), CJ Elleby (17 points) and Reggie Perry (15 points) led the Blazers in that game.

Twitter: @DwainPrice

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