Are you a blue blood fan of the Dallas Mavericks? Well, they need red blood now

You hear it all the time.

Fans say they bleed their team's favorite color.

The Dallas Mavericks will be putting that saying to the test this week when they host a blood drive on the American Airlines Center practice court on Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In December, nearly 500 donors participated by giving blood with Carter BloodCare.

For those who didn't participate the first time, you have a second shot.

Carter BloodCare will set up donor beds on the practice court, which is inside the AAC at 2500 Victory Avenue in Dallas. Donors will receive a tour of the locker room and a surprise gift.

Blood is essential to saving lives. There is no substitute for human blood. That’s why hospitals count on the community to supply blood for their patients’ transfusions. More than 600 patients require blood transfusions daily. One simple donation of a pint of blood can help at least three patients.

Carter BloodCare needs 1,000 blood donors daily to keep the supply plentiful.

For more information, visit carterbloodcare.org.

This story was originally published March 5, 2018 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Are you a blue blood fan of the Dallas Mavericks? Well, they need red blood now."