The Dallas Mavericks (20-13) travel to face off against the Houston Rockets (21-11) on Wednesday, January 1st. This game will be played at Toyota Center in Houston and televised on SCHN. Both the Mavericks and Rockets will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Tip off is scheduled for 8:00 ET.

Mavericks vs Rockets

The Mavericks Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Dallas dropped to 20-13 on the season after a 110-100 road loss to the Kings on Monday. The Mavericks, who were +8.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 210 fell short of the 223.5 O/U line.

Dallas started strong, leading 37-23 after the 1st quarter. However, the Kings went on a 12-0 run, taking the lead from 44-35 to 47-44. The Mavericks were down 83-77 going into the 4th, but Sacramento outscored them 27-23 in the final period.

The Rockets Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

After a 104-100 loss to the Heat on Sunday, the Rockets are now 21-11 this season. Houston, who were -8.5 point favorites, not only lost the game but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 204, falling short of the 215-point line.

Miami’s 12-0 run early in the game put Houston on the back foot. The Rockets fought back, taking an 82-81 lead into the 4th quarter, but were outscored 23-18 in the final period.

Mavericks Offense Breakdown

In their 110-100 loss to the Kings, the Mavericks shot just 42.1% from the field, with 12 made threes at a 38.7% clip. Spencer Dinwiddie led the way with 30 points, hitting 3 threes at 50% efficiency, while P.J. Washington added 28 points and 4 made threes.

Washington scored 19 of his 28 points in the 1st quarter, while Dinwiddie contributed 11 points in the opening period. Quentin Grimes chipped in 11 points, including 6 in the 4th quarter.

Rockets Offense Breakdown

In their 100-point effort against the Heat, the Rockets shot just 39.2% from the field, with a 32.5% mark from beyond the arc, hitting 13 threes. Dillon Brooks led the way with 22 points, knocking down 5 threes at a 41.7% rate.

Jalen Green added 19 points, 14 of which came in the 3rd quarter, while Alperen Şengün contributed 18 points and 18 rebounds, shooting 57.1%. Fred VanVleet chipped in 16 points, scoring 8 in the final period.

Mavericks Team Defense

Despite a strong defensive effort, the Mavericks gave up 110 points in their loss to the Kings. Dallas allowed 33 points in the 2nd quarter but held Sacramento to 27 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters.

The Mavericks held the Kings to 42% shooting, including just 10 made threes on 31% shooting. Sacramento went 16/19 from the free-throw line. Dallas finished with 8 steals and 13 blocks.

Rockets Team Defense

Defensively, the Mavericks held the Kings to 110 points on 42% shooting, including just 10 made threes at a 31% clip. Dallas gave up 23 points in the 1st quarter but struggled in the 2nd, allowing 33 points. They allowed 27 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters.

Dallas sent Sacramento to the line 19 times, where they made 16 free throws. The Mavericks finished with 34 defensive rebounds but allowed 18 offensive boards. They also recorded 8 steals and 13 blocks in the game.

Mavericks vs Rockets Trends

• In their last five games away from home, the Mavericks have a straight up record of 2-3 while going 2-3 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 113 points per game in these contests.
• In their last three home games, Houston has averaged 118 points per game while allowing 107. The team’s record in this stretch was 3-0 while going 2-1 vs. the spread.
• Going back to their last ten games as the underdog, the Mavericks have a straight up record of 6-4. But, their mark vs the spread was just 6-4.
• Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Rockets have a straight up record of 7-3. But, their mark vs the spread was just 5-5.

Mavericks vs Rockets Prediction

We’re calling a win for the Rockets, with a final score of 121-102, and we’re taking them to cover the spread. Our recommendation is to bet on the Rockets at -5.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 222 and our model has the Mavericks and Rockets finishing with a combined 223 points. Our pick is to take the over.

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All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.