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

This game was originally supposed to be at 8:30 ET/7:30 CT, but due to inclement weather getting ready to hit the Dallas area, the NBA has moved the game up to 7:30 ET/6:30 CT. Temperatures will reach freezing levels throughout the weekend, but the rain and snow expected had the NBA worried about team and fan safety.

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.

Jaden Hardy came off the bench to score a season-high 25 points and the Dallas Mavericks closed with an 18-2 run to rally for a 117-111 victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.

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.

The Blazers agree to this swap in hopes of freeing up a major amount of cap space this offseason, as Middleton has a player option. Alternatively, the Bucks add a similar caliber player to Middleton, who is under contract until 2027 and is slightly younger than the Milwaukee veteran.

TV channel: KATU (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland. Xfinity: 302 and 1170. DirecTV: 688-1. KUNP (Antenna: 47.1. Xfinity: 16, 302, 1170. DirecTV: 47. Spectrum: 184).

In a season filled with lows, the New Orleans’ Pelicans dipped even lower Wednesday night. The Pelicans lost by 119-100 to the Portland Trail Blazers. At one point, the Pelicans trailed by 33. This wasn’t some road game in Philadelphia - where the Pelicans will play Friday night - or in Boston - where the Pelicans will play on Sunday.