During a long season full of ups and downs, there are certain games where championship-caliber teams need to take care of business and bank winnings.

Monday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers qualifies for this category.

The Blazers are an improving team, but they aren’t ready to compete for anything other than potentially the No. 1 pick in the lottery and the rights to next summer’s top prize, Cooper Flagg.

But the Mavericks are in a part of the schedule where they can’t afford a slip-up. They had an excellent winning streak in November and early December, winning 11 out of 12 games.

But they’ve only split their last four games, and with the Blazers coming through, the Mavericks have a tougher schedule, starting with Minnesota on Christmas Day. Then there’s a four-game trip that includes games in Phoenix and Houston.

And when they return to the American Airlines Center for their first home game of 2025, they will have to contend with the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.

Coach Jason Kidd often describes the NBA season as a marathon. If that’s the case, this is the point in the race where you can’t let a little cramp in your leg slow you down.

The Mavericks simply can’t afford to overlook a game they’re heavily favored to win, and they’re 9½-point favorites against a Portland team that has lost seven of its last eight games, including the 114: 94 loss on Saturday in San Antonio.

Here’s what else to look for in the second of four meetings against the Blazers this season.

• This will also be the first of three games against Portland in 18 days. The Mavericks visit the Moda Center on Saturday and the Blazers return to AAC action on January 9th.
• Luka Dončić was upgraded to questionable for the game. He has missed the last two games due to a bruised left heel. Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain) remains out. For the Blazers, Delano Banton (hip) is questionable and Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain) is out. The Blazers will be much healthier than they were when the Mavericks beat them 137-131 on December 1st. In that game, Portland was without rookie center Donovan Clingan and highly regarded second-year point guard Scoot Henderson. Both will play on Monday. In the first meeting, Quentin Grimes posted a season-best 28 points and five steals, the most of his career.
• The Blazers don’t win many games, but they have some extremely athletic young players. Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons, both averaging 17.7 points. Clingan, the 7-2 rookie center who averages six points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
• In the loss at San Antonio, Sharpe scored 25 points on 11 of 16 shooting, including 3 of 6 from long range.
• The Mavericks are 1-1 at home after splitting games with the Los Angeles Clippers. In Saturday’s win, eight players scored in double figures, including Dereck Lively II, who added 11 rebounds to go with his 11 points.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (9-19) and MAVERICKS (18-10)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Monday.

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV: KFAA-29, MavsTV STREAM

RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESefko