Mavericks vs Rockets Prediction

Houston Rockets (13-12) vs Dallas Mavericks (16-11)

Game Info: Friday, December 22, 2023 at 8:00 pm (Toyota Center)

Betting Odds: Houston Rockets -8.5 -- Over/Under: 235

The Dallas Mavericks travel to the Toyota Center to do battle with the Houston Rockets on Friday night. Here's a Mavericks vs Rockets prediction.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have cooled off a bit from their four-game win streak as they have now lost three of their last four after getting beaten by the Clippers in a 120-111 loss on Wednesday. Luka Doncic led the team with 28 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists on nine of 25 shooting, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 21 points off the bench while Derrick Jones Jr. chipped in with 19 points. As a team, the Mavericks shot just 42 percent from the field and 14 of 43 from the 3-point line as they worked hard to claw their way back from a 22-point deficit, only to go ice-cold and score just three points in the final 3:45 to allow the Clippers to slip away in a disappointing finish.

Houston Rockets

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have been in a bit of a rut as they will be hoping to avoid a fourth straight defeat after falling short to the struggling Hawks in a 134-127 loss on Wednesday. Jabari Smith Jr led the team with 34 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, Fred VanVleet added 32 points and 15 assists while Dillon Brooks chipped in with 19 points on seven of nine shooting. As a team, the Rockets shot 49 percent from the field and 16 of 34 from the 3-point line as they poured in 35 points in the third quarter to erase a 20-point deficit, only to allow 36 points in the fourth quarter as they had no answer for the Hawks' Trae Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic down the stretch.

Mavericks vs Rockets prediction

The Mavericks are severely shorthanded in this one with Dante Exum, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Maxi Kleber and Derrick Lively all listed as out, while Seth Curry is questionable. Both teams have hit a lull in their season, but with the Mavericks dealing with so many injuries to key players, the line has moved considerably in this one. The Rockets haven't been at their best lately, but they should be good enough to take advantage of this situation, especially at home where they are 11-2 on the season so far.

The pick in this article is the opinion of the writer, not a PickDawgz site consensus.