The Houston Rockets head to Dallas on Friday night trying to keep their perfect start intact, while the Mavericks are chasing a third straight win after knocking off a pair of quality opponents in consecutive games.
Houston is fresh off a 132-100 win in Milwaukee on Wednesday, a dominant showing that opened a short two-game road swing on the right foot. Dallas, meanwhile, has already done damage in its last two outings, beating the Heat in Miami before rolling past the Thunder at home.
These teams also met in the season opener, when the Rockets handled the Mavericks 128-110 in Houston. This rematch comes with injury uncertainty on both sides, and one name to keep an eye on is Alperen Sengun, who is questionable.
Cooper Flagg was the bright spot for Dallas in that first meeting, putting up 32 points on 10 of 17 shooting in his sophomore season debut. The problem for the Mavericks was the lack of help around him.
Still, Flagg has been rolling overall, averaging 25.3 points, 6.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 52.2% from the field. He followed that opener with 26 points on 10 of 23 shooting against the Thunder on Wednesday.
Houston got a big scoring burst from Fred VanVleet in Wednesday’s win, when he finished with 24 points. The Rockets were without Alperen Sengun, Marcus Smart, and Steven Adams in that game, and with Sengun and Smart again on the injury report, another night like that from VanVleet is not something to bank on every time out.
Dallas has the look of a team that’s found some rhythm, and the under has hit in its last four games. Whether that trend continues or the Rockets stay unbeaten, Friday’s NBA Cup group play opener has plenty of moving parts before the ball goes up.
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Irving poured in a season-high 35 points, while Flagg added 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a performance that showed just how much Dallas can lean on its top-end talent when the pressure rises. Houston still had its chances behind Kevin Durants 28 points, but the late moments tilted Dallas way, and the Mavericks also had to navigate a tense finish with Daniel Gafford battling through a rolled ankle. [Read more 🡒]
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Dwight Powells Next Move Will Hit Mavericks Fans Hard
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Powell spent nearly his entire 12-year NBA career in Dallas, becoming one of the most familiar faces of the franchise over that stretch. Fenerbahce also offers a high-level stage, with a roster that includes several former NBA players, but the move marks a major change for a veteran who built his reputation in Dallas and is now set for a very different kind of basketball environment. [Read more 🡒]