The Dallas Mavericks can close out their first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 6 on Thursday night at the Rose Garden at 10:30pm ET on TNT. That will not be easy considering that the Mavericks are just 2-18 in their last 20 playoff road games and the home team has won all nine meetings between these teams this season. A big key for free sports picks sharps to keep an eye will be the rebounding battle. Tyson Chandler had his best output of the playoffs with 14 points and a career playoff-best 20 rebounds in Game 5 as Dallas never allowed Portland to make a serious run in the fourth quarter. The Mavericks are now a -400 favorite to win this series and can cash in on those NBA playoff odds when these teams hit the floor for game 6 on Thursday night.

The Mavericks received the kind of game they had been waiting for from Chandler, who had 16 total points in the first four contests of the series. Dallas outscored Portland 17-8 in second-chance points and had 20 offensive rebounds. If that is the way game 6 is going to go down, then Dallas can start making travel plans as they will not only cover their +4-point spread, but win this game straight-up. The NBA odds at SBGGlobal.com aren’t so indicative of that argument though. Dallas would have to duplicate every edge that they had in game 5, and that hasn’t been too easy for them at the Rose Garden. I’m taking Portland to provide some drama and push this series to a game 7 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas this weekend.

LaMarcus Aldridge, who had 12 points and nine rebounds in game 5, will need to contribute more scoring as he is Portland’s best threat. Gerald Wallace had 16 points and nine rebounds, but 10 came when the game was already decided, so he will also have to be more of a factor in this game because Brandon Roy cooled off considerably with five points after scoring 24 in Game 4. Portland really gets amped up in front of their home fans, so Dallas will have to try to take the crowd out of the ballgame in the earlier stages.

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