Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/31/2026

 

Game Time: 8:30 pm ET, Saturday, January 31, 2026

Venue:  Toyota Center, Houston, TX

Where to Watch:  ABC

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Mavericks +11.5, Rockets -11.5; Over/Under:  220.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Mavericks +11.5, Rockets -11.5; Over/Under:  220.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Mavericks +11.5, Rockets -11.5; Over/Under:  220.5 points

Dallas Mavericks:  19-29 (4th place, Southwest Division)

Houston Rockets:  29-17 (2nd place, Southwest Division)

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Dallas Mavericks:  5-5 last 10

Houston Rockets:  7-3 last 10

The Mavericks are entering this game with a 19-29 record overall this season and they are 5-14 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 3 game losing streak with losses coming against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Charlotte Hornets. Cooper Flagg led the team in points in that game with 49 while Klay Thompson was next on the team with 16 points. Brandon Williams led the team in assists in that game with 6 while Caleb Martin led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 46.6% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 114.2 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 116.7 PPG against them. The Mavericks have an ATS record of 22-26 this season and their O/U record is 21-27.

The Rockets are entering this game with a 29-17 record overall this season and they are 16-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Atlanta Hawks. Kevin Durant led the team in points in that game with 31 while Jabari Smith Jr. was next on the team with 14 points. Amen Thompson led the team in assists in that game with 5 while Alperen Şengün led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 42.4% from the field, 38.7% from 3-point range, and 70% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 116.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 110 PPG against them. The Rockets have an ATS record of 22-24 this season and their O/U record is 20-25-1.

The current betting odds have the Rockets listed as an 11.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rockets have looked really good in their games this season with their 29-17 record overall which has them in the top half of the West. They have looked great on their home court too with their 16-4 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Mavericks haven't looked good in their games this season with their 19-29 record overall which has them in the bottom half of the West. They have been a terrible road team too with their 5-14 road record this year. The Mavericks have been one of the worst teams in the West this season as they are going through the growing pains of their young star Cooper Flagg while some of the other key players are still recovering from injuries. They haven't looked terrible lately, but they are still 5-5 in their last 10 games and have fallen into a bit of a slump now with 3 losses in a row. They are off a home loss to the Hornets in their last one too, one of the weaker teams in the East, and now they are going on the road to face one of the best in the West. The Rockets have been one of the best teams in the West all season and they are a true contender in the league this year. They have been starting to roll again in their games lately as they are 7-3 in their last 10 and they are off a road win over the Hawks in their last one too. These two teams are in very different situations this season and the Mavericks just don't have the talent to compete with the Rockets right now, especially when the Rockets have looked like a completely different team at home this year. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rockets to cover the spread in this game. 

Mavericks Rockets Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Saturday, January 31, 2026 (8:30 pm ET start time) is Rockets 114 Mavericks 98.

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Dallas Mavericks: 6-3 ATS after playing 3 consecutive home games. 9-1 ATS versus good rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 3+ per game. 11-5 ATS versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game. 8-3 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%).

Houston Rockets: 3-6 ATS revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 8-16 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record. 8-1 UNDER revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 7-2 UNDER after allowing 100 points or less. 

Dallas Mavericks:  N. Marshall (SF) Day To Day - Rest. A. Davis (PF) Out - Hand. D. Lively II (C) Out For Season - Foot. K. Irving (SG) Out - Knee. D. Exum (PG) Out For Season - Knee.

Houston Rockets:  D. Finney-Smith (PF) Day To Day - Injury Management. T. Eason (PF) Day To Day - Injury Management. S. Adams (C) Out For Season - Ankle. F. VanVleet (PG) Out For Season - ACL.

“He’s not about numbers, he’s about wins and losses. That’s who he is. He competes to win. People that take stats, he’s not worried about. For a young man who thinks that way, he’s going to be a champion sooner than later. He continues to keep working, for him to be out and to be able to come out with this type of game, he’s just competitive, and he tried to will his team into a win tonight.” - Jason Kidd on Cooper Flagg after his team’s loss against the Hornets in their game on Thursday.

"Fred [VanVleet] is crucial to our whole eco-system. His IQ and the headiness that he plays with, we're missing some of that." - Ime Udoka on Fred VanVleet’s importance to the team.

PG Cooper Flagg

SG Max Christie

SF Naji Marshall 

PF P.J. Washington

C Daniel Gafford

PG Amen Thompson

SG Tari Eason

SF Kevin Durant

PF Jabari Smith Jr.

C Alperen Sengun

PPG: Anthony Davis (20.4)

APG: Ryan Nembhard (4.9)

Reb/G: Anthony Davis (11.1)

PPG: Kevin Durant (26.5)

APG: Alperen Sengun (6.3)

Reb/G: Alperen Sengun (9.1)

Coaches:

Dallas Mavericks: Jason Kidd (5th season)

Houston Rockets: Ime Udoka (3rd season)