In a showdown of the top two teams in the NBA’s Southwest Division from last season, Rockets will host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night at Toyota Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m Central, in what will be the final matchup of a three-game homestand for Houston.
What remains to be seen is whether the two biggest names of the usual Texas rivalry will play. James Harden missed Saturday’s win by the Rockets (2-2) with a sprained right ankle, while Luka Doncic sat out Sunday’s loss by the Mavs in Chicago with a left quad contusion. Harden and Doncic finished third and fourth, respectively, in 2019-20 MVP voting.
Both stars will be listed as questionable for Monday’s game, with further details on their status unlikely to come until closer to tipoff. Betting odds for the Texas showdown had yet to be posted as of late Sunday, presumably due to the uncertainty involving each team’s star player.
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Even with Harden sidelined, the Rockets still had enough to win on Saturday versus Sacramento, as John Wall (28 points, 6 assists), Christian Wood (20 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks), and a resurgent defense (30 points allowed in the second half) were among the key storylines. But the Mavs, who finished a close second to Houston in the division last season, are likely to be a stiffer test than the Kings — especially if Doncic plays.
For new Rockets coach Stephen Silas, it will be his first meeting with Dallas since his stint as Rick Carlisle’s top assistant the last two years.
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With Doncic out, the Mavs suffered a 118-108 loss (box score) to the Bulls on Sunday, dropping them to a disappointing 2-4 on the 2020-21 season to date. Jalen Brunson, who replaced Doncic at point guard, led Dallas with 31 points and seven assists in the narrow defeat.
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While Carlisle hasn’t tipped his hand, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Doncic was spared versus an Chicago with an eye on having him available versus a conference and divisional opponent in Houston. But even if Doncic plays, the Rockets should still have a relative scheduling advantage, since Monday will be the second game of a road back-to-back for the Mavs.
Star big man Kristaps Porzingis remains sidelined indefinitely for the Mavericks due to offseason knee surgery.
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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Rockets -2.5 (-110), Mavs +2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Rockets -140/Mavs +115
- Over-under: 228.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
- Player O/U Scoring Props: TBD
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
Advice and prediction
The Mavs should be weary on the second night of a road back-to-back, while the Rockets are rested and at home. Since getting veterans John Wall, Eric Gordon, and DeMarcus Cousins back from quarantine, Houston hasn’t lost, and its defense has progressively improved.
Monday’s game is tricky to predict, given the uncertain statuses of Doncic and Harden. Both Carlisle and Silas should have their sides motivated to compete hard defensively, given their status as division rivals. But on paper, Houston benefits from a scheduling advantage, and the Rockets have looked to be in better form than Dallas in recent days. The under on the game’s points total might also be a good bet, given the improved defense shown by Houston and potential fatigue issues for the Mavs.
Prediction: 114-108, Rockets
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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