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Houston Rockets vs Dallas Mavericks 1/2/23 NBA Picks, Predictions, Odds

Dallas Mavericks (21-16) vs. Houston Rockets (10-26)
January 2, 2023 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Houston Rockets +7.5; Over/Under: +230
(Get latest betting odds)

The Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets collide at the Toyota Center on Monday night.

The Dallas Mavericks have been in great shape as they’ve won eight of their last 11 games overall and they will be eager to build on their six-game win streak after outlasting the Spurs in a 126-125 road win on Saturday. Luka Doncic led the way with 51 points with six rebounds, nine assists and four steals, Christian Wood added 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting while Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in with 14 points. As a team, the Mavericks shot 58 percent from the field and 14 of 34 from the 3-point line as they built an early 17-point lead thanks to Doncic who started the game with 22 points in the first quarter, but they really had to scrap and fight till the end as the Spurs rallied in the fourth quarter to make it interesting late.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have been in a terrible slump as they’ve lost eight of their last nine games overall and they will be hoping to snap a three-game skid after getting routed by the Knicks in a 108-88 loss on Saturday. Kevin Porter Jr. led the team with 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Jalen Green added 16 points while Eric Gordon chipped in with 12 points. As a team, the Rockets shot just 37 percent from the field and 14 of 46 from the 3-point line as they exploded for 35 points in the first quarter to jump out to an early lead, but they couldn’t maintain that pace and got dominated by 81-53 the rest of the way to get completely blown out in the end.

Looking at the betting trends, the Mavericks are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 road games, 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 games against a team with a losing record and 10-21-2 ATS in their last 33 games overall. The Rockets are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six home games, 15-31 ATS in their last 46 games following a double-digit loss at home and 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games overall.

Head to head, the under is 4-1 in the last five meetings overall and the Mavericks are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in Houston.

The Mavericks are still missing a few players as Josh Green, Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith are all out, while the Rockets are keeping an eye on Alperen Sengun who is questionable for this one. The Mavericks come into this meeting clearly as the team in better form and that’s thanks largely to Luka Doncic who has been on fire over the past few games. The line is a little bigger than I’d like, but the Mavericks should be good enough to win this one comfortably.

Peter Tran's Free Pick: Dallas -7.5

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Peter Tran

Peter Trans is an acclaimed Expert NBA Handicapper, renowned for his insightful analysis and predictions in the world of professional basketball. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the game, Peter has established himself as a trusted authority among basketball enthusiasts and bettors alike. His expertise is showcased on SportsChatPlace.com, where he provides in-depth game analyses, betting tips, and forecasts that are both highly informative and remarkably accurate.

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