Why is Mavericks vs Trail Blazers game rescheduled? Reason behind early game tip-off explored

On Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks are scheduled to host the Portland Trail Blazers in regular season action. Fans attending this game need to be aware that the tip-off time has been moved.

Reports emerged that the NBA decided to reschedule the start time between the Mavs and Blazers. It has been moved up an hour due to the weather forecast in the area. A winter storm warning was put into effect for the Dallas area from Thursday night into Friday. A mix of rain and potentially two to four inches of snow has been forecast

Moving up the start time will give everyone in attendance of Mavericks vs Blazers a chance to make it home before the brunt of the storm reaches the area. Originally slated to start at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, the two teams will tip off at 6:30 p.m. instead.

This rescheduling is one of the latest moves the NBA has had to make due to outside conditions. Earlier on Thursday, the league announced that the matchup between the LA Lakers and Charlotte Hornets has been postponed. This move was in connection to the wildfires that have drastically impacted the state of California.

Instead of completely postponing the game, Mavs-Blazers will have an early start in an effort to beat out the winter storms.

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Dallas Mavericks remain shorthanded in matchup against Portland Trail Blazers

Looking ahead to the their matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers, the key storyline for the Dallas Mavericks is their lack of star power. They will be vastly shorthanded on Thursday, as Luka Doncic (calf strain) and Kyrie Irving (back) both remain out.

Doncic has missed the Mavs' last seven games after suffering a calf injury on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves. As for Irving, he was last in action on New Year's Day against the Houston Rockets.

Without their All-Star duo, the Dallas Mavericks have struggled to stay competitive. Their 1-2 over their last three games, suffering double-digit losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Memphis Grizzlies. However, the shorthanded squad secured a blowout win over the LA Lakers on national TV earlier this week.

Even without Doncic and Irving, Dallas has a chance to stay in the win column on Thursday. The Trail Blazers enter this matchup in 13th place in the Western Conference, with a 13-23 record. Portland has been up-and-down in its recent stretch, going 2-2 over their last four games.

Down two All-Stars, Dallas will attempt to call on Klay Thompson to lead its charge against a young Blazers team.