The Houston Rockets (15-5) and Dallas Mavericks (8-16) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. EST from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The game will be broadcast live on SCHN.
The Rockets are 8.5-point favorites over the Mavericks on the spread (Rockets -8.5), with the over/under set at 224.5 total points. Houston is a -400 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Dallas is +320 to pull off the upset.
Let’s get into my Rockets vs. Mavericks predictions and NBA picks for Saturday, December 6.
- Rockets vs Mavericks pick: Under 224.5 (-110)
My Mavericks vs Rockets best bet is on the under, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Rockets vs Mavericks Odds
Saturday, Dec 6
8:30 p.m. ET
SCHN
| Rockets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|
-8.5 -110 |
224.5 -110o / -110u |
-400 |
| Mavericks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|
+8.5 -110 |
224.5 -110o / -110u |
+320 |
Rockets vs Mavericks NBA Preview
The Mavericks will try to avenge their 110-102 defeat to the Rockets in November when the two sides meet in Dallas on Saturday night.
Dallas recently enjoyed its best stretch of the season, a three-game winning streak, which ended in a blowout 132-111 loss to the defending champions of Oklahoma City.
However, perhaps such a lopsided defeat isn’t too much of a surprise given OKC’s 22-1 start to the campaign.
The key takeaway might be that Saturday’s matchup comes very quickly after Dallas played on Friday night.
In fact, both teams will be on short rest as they play their second game in as many days.
Although the Rockets and Mavericks are on opposite ends of the standings, they share one similarity: both are very good defensively.
Houston sits second in defensive efficiency, allowing 109.8 points per 100 possessions, while Dallas ranks seventh with a 112.2 Rating.
The Mavericks do a tremendous job in limiting opponents on the perimeter, as they’re allowing a league-best 11.1 3-point field goals per game.
Moreover, when you consider they also rank second in opponent 3-point attempts (33.9), there’s a clear commitment to defending the long ball.
Where Dallas can be vulnerable is in the interior, where it allows the second-highest paint points at 55.5 per game.
However, this is part of the trade-off we see at times, as teams seek other avenues to find any success.
Nonetheless, the Mavericks’ overall defense isn’t their problem—it’s their offense. Dallas sits at the bottom of the league offensively, scoring just 107.8 points per 100 possessions.
To put things into perspective, despite having just three wins apiece, the Pelicans and Wizards have posted a better offensive efficiency than Dallas.
Given their struggles, it’s difficult to expect much success from this Mavericks side against an even better defensive team in the Rockets.
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Rockets vs Mavericks Prediction, Betting Analysis
The Mavericks enter this game with the third-best mark for under-bettors at 15-8 (62.5%).
Those numbers aren’t entirely surprising considering their strengths defensively and frailties on offense.
Such a combination is an ideal setup for under-bettors, and our position is even further enhanced, given the short rest.
I’d expect fatigue to have an impact in this game, particularly for a Dallas team that already struggles offensively.
It’s worth noting that the Mavericks are a perfect 5-0 to the under this season in games when they’re on the second leg of a back-to-back.
With my model projecting a total closer to 220.5, the under is well worth a look at 224.5 for this divisional and intrastate clash.
Pick: Under 224.5 (-110)
Spread
I have no bet on the spread.
Moneyline
I’m also steering clear of the moneyline.
Over/Under
I’m backing the under 224.5 total points for this matchup.
Mavericks vs Rockets Betting Trends
