Monday night’s NBA action continues with an I-45 showdown, as the Houston Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center.
Houston (3-2) dropped its first two games of the season but has bounced back with three-straight wins — punctuated by a 27-point beatdown of the Celtics in Boston on Saturday. Dallas (2-4), meanwhile, has struggled early and enters Monday’s matchup on the heels of a double-digit loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET. The Rockets enter as a commanding 12.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Mavericks are listed as +500 underdogs. The game’s total is set at 224.5 points.
Mavericks vs. Rockets Preview
The shocking Luka Doncic trade continues to age like milk for the Dallas Mavericks. Anthony Davis, the headlining return in the deal, will miss his second straight game on Monday after suffering a calf strain last week — all while Doncic is lighting up the City of Stars with 40-plus points on a nightly basis.
Davis leads the Mavericks in points, rebounds, and steals per game, and his absence further strains an already thin roster. With No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg still adjusting to the professional level, the Mavs have few options to lean on, ranking 26th in net rating and dead last in offensive rating.
Dallas shoots just 44.2% from the field — the fifth-worst in the NBA — and is tied for the fewest made threes per game (10.3) at paltry 32.8% clip. While their defense has been a bright spot, Dallas is getting crushed in transition and on the boards, allowing a whopping 58 points in the paint per game — the most in the league.
Meanwhile, the acquisition of Kevin Durant has launched the Rockets’ offense to another planet. Who would have guessed? The two-time Finals MVP is averaging 27.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, bolstering a blossoming Houston squad that leads the NBA in offensive rating and ranks second in net rating.
Houston also paces the NBA in scoring, shooting 50.3% from the field and a league-leading 45.4% from downtown. While their defense has been middling, the Rockets dominate the boards — corralling the third-most rebounds (48.4) while allowing the second-fewest (36.2). They rank third in the NBA with 20 second-chance points per game, though it remains to be seen if they can replicate that success against Dallas, a team equally skilled at limiting second-chance opportunities.
Mavericks vs. Rockets Pick, Best Bet
Ironically, Houston doesn’t have many problems right now, while Dallas seems to have more than it can handle. With Anthony Davis on the sidelines, expect the Rockets to extend their win streak and deepen the frustration of the Mavs’ faithful.
