The Dallas Mavericks will play the Houston Rockets in a Western Conference matchup on Friday night. It's time continue our NBA odds series with a Mavericks-Rockets prediction and pick.
The Mavericks and Rockets will meet on Friday in an all-Texas NBA matchup. Dallas will be without quite a bit of production in this one it seems with Luka Doncic doubtful with an ankle sprain and Kristaps Porzingis tied up in the NBA's health and safety protocols. Houston is nearly at full strength, and comes in as just slight underdogs to the Mavericks at home in this one. The Rockets will be missing two of their rookies, Usman Garuba and Alperen Sengun, for this matchup. Dallas has won four in a row overall while Houston is looking to snap a five-game home losing streak.
Here is how FanDuel has set the Mavericks-Rockets odds for this Thursday NBA matchup.
NBA Odds: Mavericks-Rockets Odds
Dallas Mavericks -2 (-110)
Houston Rockets +2 (-110)
Over 220.5 (-110)
Under 220.5 (-110)
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Why The Mavericks Could Cover The Spread
Dallas has found something on the defensive end of late, holding opponents to under 100 points in their last four games, and under 90 in their last three. The absence of Doncic and Porzingis will obviously be big but it doesn't hurt the Mavericks on the defensive end. Dallas has had their recent defensive surge with Porzingis off the court, including their 99-82 win vs. the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. This could be a good spot for the Mavericks to cover and win as slim favorites, even shorthanded. The Rockets have not been good this season and the Mavericks still have the deeper and more experienced group overall even without Doncic and Porzingis. Dallas will be a bit thin at center as Willie Cauley-Stein and Boban Marjanovic are both out.
Dallas vs. the spread
The Mavericks are 19-19 against the spread the season overall and 11-9 on the road. Dallas is 10-9 vs. the line as a favorite this season and 5-3 as road favorites vs. the spread. The Mavs have covered in six of their last ten games.
Why The Rockets Could Cover The Spread
Home underdogs are always nice, but this is still probably not enough points. With Doncic and Porzingis in the lineup, this could easily be a double-digit spread. Even without two of their best players, the Mavericks are probably still two points better than the Rockets rather easily. Houston has had an up-and-down season and should not be trusted as such slim dogs, even at home, vs. a quality team like Dallas. The Rockets' young and rebuilding group will face an uphill battle at a win or a cover in this one despite the Mavericks being a bit shorthanded.
Houston vs. the spread
The Rockets are 17-21 vs. the spread this season, and have covered just twice in their last ten games. Houston is 5-8 vs. the spread as a home underdog this season and 14-19-1 overall with the points.
Final Mavericks-Rockets Prediction and Pick
Take the Mavericks to cover and win vs. the Rockets on Friday. Dallas has locked in from a team defense standpoint lately, and the absence of Doncic should not be a big factor in that. If the Mavericks show up the way the have defensively across their current four-game win streak, extending that streak to five games vs. a poor Houston team should be very feasible.
Final Mavericks-Rockets Prediction & Pick: Mavericks -2 (-110)
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