Game Time: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, January 7th, 2022 

Venue:  Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

Where to Watch:  NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread: NL

BetMGM:  Spread:  NL

VegasInsider:  Spread: 

WynnBet: Spread: 

Mavericks: 20-18, 5th place Western conference

Rockets: 11-28, 15th place Western Conference

The Dallas Mavericks had a great night… They retired Dirk Nowitzki’s number… which very few people got to see because it was aired on the ESPN app… immediately following the game on ESPN.  Except on ESPN (the channel we were already on) immediately following the game began the Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets game.  So, the sports eyeballs in the world had to decide whether to keep watching a game or… log on and download the ESPN app… fill in all the blank info screens and get the broadcast going.  Like me, everyone said “I’ll see the highlights later”... and simply stuck to the ESPN they were already watching.  The game itself though was a triumph for the Mavericks who won 99-82 over the Golden State Warriors who were then the #1 team in the NBA.  The Warriors loss actually dropped them into #2 behind the Phoenix Suns.  The Mavericks can take extra pride as they successfully stymied Stephen Curry (the greatest shooter in NBA history) and his merry band of winners.  The Mavs did face a very scary moment in the last few minutes of the game when star PG Luka Doncic turned his ankle and could not run off the pain.  In fact Luka took about ten steps before crumbling to the floor in pain.  A few minutes later Luka was in better shape and walking fine… we shall see how he feels today and going forward.  The great news if Luka needs a few days off is that the Mavs will be playing the Houston Rockets… the worst of the West.  The Mavericks have won 6 of the last ten games… and are currently on a four-game winning streak.

The Houston Rockets are the worst of the West.  It is not an insult… it is a fact.  If not for the Detroit Pistons over in the East… The Rockets would be the worst team in all of the NBA.  It makes sense that they are stuck in this place… The Rockets kept trading and kept trading to try to find the perfect superstar to pair with MVP James Harden in order to win a title… after Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook all didn’t work… it was time for James Harden to get out of Houston… This timing was bad for Houston.  They had no draft capital left at all, no star players, and no prospects… so they traded James Harden away in hopes that the draft capital that came back would one day be used to rebuild a playoff contender/Championship contender.  Towards that end this off-season the Rockets drafted SG Jalen Green with the #2 overall pick in the draft… he looks pale in comparison to C/PF Evan Mobley and SF/PG Scottie Barnes who were taken with the #3 and #4 picks… still it’s a beginning.  The Rockets have won 2 of their last ten games… and they aren’t a safe bet ATS either… They are 3-7 ATS over their last ten games.  The last game was a win over the Washington Wizards 114-111 and it finished with a last second 3-point shot by Kevin Porter Jr to break a 111-111 tie and get the win.

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The Mavericks are 20-18 on the season, but 19-19 ATS.  They have logged 12 Overs, 25 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 10-10 in home games.

The Rockets are 11-28 on the season, but 17-21-1 ATS.  They have notched 22 Overs and 17 Unders.  They are much better at home than on the road… The record in home games is 7-10.

Dallas is 26th in scoring with 104.9 points per game, 25th in rebounds with 43.3 per, and 4th in AST/TO ratio with 1.9.  They are shooting 22nd in FG%, 25th in 3PT%, and 18th in FT%.

Houston is 20th in points with 107.5 per game, 28th in rebounds with 42.9 per, and 30th in AST/TO ratio with 1.3.  They are shooting 20th in FG%, 19th in 3PT%, and a lousy 30th in FT%... but low free throw numbers are indicative of a very young team.

Our prediction for Friday, January 7th is…. Mavericks 111 - Rockets 93

The Rockets are empty on offense most nights.  Even if Luke Doncic takes the night off to rest the ankle, the Mavericks will still be favored.

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Dallas is 3-1 ATS versus Houston at Houston over the last 3 seasons.

Dallas is 10-2 ATS after scoring 100 points or less in the previous game this season.

Houston is 30-54 ATS in home games over the last 3 seasons. 

Dallas: PG Luka Doncic (ankle) doubtful, PF Kristaps Porzingis (covid) Out, PG Isaiah Thomas (covid) Out

Houston: C Alperen Sengun (ankle) Out, PF Usman Garuba (covid) Out

Mavericks: SF Dorian Finney-Smith, PF Maxi Kleber, C Dwight Powell, SG Jalen Brunson, PG Frank Ntilikina

Rockets: PF Jae’Sean Tate, SF Eric Gordon, C Christian Wood, SG Jalen Green, PG Kevin Porter Jr 

Mavericks

Points: Luka Doncic 25

Assists: Luka Doncic 8.8

Rebounds: Luka Doncic 8.0

Steals: Dorian Finney-Smith 1.3

Blocks: Kristaps Porzingis 1.7

Rockets

Points: Christian Wood 16.9

Assists: Kevin Porter Jr 5.8

Rebounds: Christian Wood 10.4

Steals: Kevin Porter Jr 1.4

Blocks: Christian Wood 0.9

Coaches

Mavericks: Jason Kidd

Rockets: Stephen Silas