Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 22/12/2023, 02:46  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 22/12/2023 at 12:00 in NBA Prediction

The Houston Rockets will host the Dallas Mavericks in an all-Texas NBA regular season clash on Saturday. Houston comes into this second meeting of the season with Dallas sitting eighth in the Western Conference, two places below their soon-to-be visitors. The Rockets have lost their last three games and will be eager to get back on track. Before their current slump, Ime Udoka’s men had won five straight and that was their second-longest winning run this season. Houston lost 134-127 to the Hawks last time out. This was only the second time this season that they have failed to win at home. The Rockets, who have an 11-2 record at home, are now just one game above .500. Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. combined for 66 points against the Hawks. Their tallies of 32 (VanVleet) and 34 (Smith) were both season highs. The two will be available for this match with the only player likely to miss from the Hawks game being Tari Eason.

The Dallas Mavericks have a more significant injury list coming into this match. Jason Kidd’s men will be without their top two scorers in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Irving, who is averaging 23 points, has missed the last six games with a heel injury. Doncic on the other hand was present in their most recent outing but is ruled out here with a quad strain. The Slovenian is averaging 32.7 points a game which is the second most tally at the moment in the entire NBA. Josh Green and Derrick Lively are also set to miss the game. With the depleted squad, it becomes increasingly difficult for the Mavs to end their recent slump. Dallas has won just once in its last four outings and is on a two-game losing run. They were defeated 120-111 by the Clippers last time out at home. The loss was their 11th of the campaign but they do remain five games above .500. Dallas has won four straight against Houston and took the first meeting of the season 121-115 at home.