The Dallas Mavericks enter Thursday’s home game with momentum on the back of four consecutive wins and Tuesday’s historic triple-double of 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists by Luka Doncic, a perennial NBA All-Star guard and MVP front-runner.
What can Doncic do for an encore against Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green and the rest of a young Rockets squad that is wrapping up a three-game road trip? That’s what we’ll find out in the second of three games over a 10-day span between the in-state, divisional rivals.
Doncic went for 50 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds when Dallas won at Houston last Friday, and he’ll undoubtedly look to repeat that feat as the Rockets pay their return visit to North Texas.
Then again, Doncic admitted to considerable fatigue after his historic game Tuesday against New York, which could lead to some tired legs against the Rockets.
It’s also worth noting Houston played the Mavericks close until the final seconds in last week’s meeting, and Porter is playing some of his best ball of the 2022-23 season to date. He’s averaging 29 points (55% FG, 44.4% on 3-pointers), 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 1 turnover in 37.3 minutes on Houston’s current road trip.