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  • The Rockets are 21-11 and have the second-best record in the Southwest Division.
  • Dallas is 20-13 and has the third-best record in the Southwest Division.
  • These teams last played on Oct. 31, with the Rockets claiming a 108-102 victory.

One of the games on tap from Wednesday night’s NBA slate features the Houston Rockets hosting the Dallas Mavericks. Our Rockets vs Mavericks prediction foresees the Rockets winning a close one.

Rockets Look To Bounce Back From Loss To Heat

On the heels of a 15-point loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 14, the Rockets reeled off four consecutive wins. However, they enter this conference tilt amid a two-game losing streak, including a 104-100 defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat. Dillon Brooks led a quartet of starters that reached double figures, finishing with 22 points and four rebounds, including five 3-pointers.

Jalen Green added 19 points and three rebounds. Alperen Sengun scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Fred VanVleet chipped in with 16 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. After blowing a 15-point fourth quarter in their previous outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston struggled down the stretch in this contest as well, scoring 18 points on 6-for-24 shooting from the field during the game’s final 12 minutes.

Dallas Looks To End Two-Game Slide

Following a 98-89 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 27, the Mavericks have dropped their previous two games as well. This includes a 110-100 loss against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. Spencer Dinwiddie paced the team’s offense with 30 points and six assists on 8-for-18 from the field and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.

P.J. Washington added 28 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots, while Quentin Grimes contributed 11 points, seven boards and three dimes. Dallas led by 18 points in the first half, before Sacramento trimmed the deficit to 60-56 at the break.

In the second half, the short-handed Mavericks were outscored by a 54-40 margin, as the Kings notched their first victory under interim head coach Doug Christie. In addition to Luka Doncic being out of the rotation for the next several weeks due to a calf strain injury, the Mavs were also without the services of Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Klay Thompson (illness), Derrick Lively II (hip) and Naji Marshall (suspension)

Rockets vs Mavericks Prediction: Houston Gets The “W” In This Western Conference Showdown

After an impressive 15-6 start, the Rockets have produced only four wins across their last 11 contests. While it has dropped its previous two games, Houston is one of the better defensive ball clubs in the association, ranking third in points allowed (106.6 PPG) and second in defensive efficiency (106.5 Points Per 100 Possessions).

On the other side of this matchup, the Mavericks have gone 4-5 since a 16-9 start. Additionally, they have posted losses in three of their previous four contests. Sure, the Mavericks are a top-10 team from and offensive standpoint, but points may be hard to come by without their leading scorer in the lineup. With that in mind, look for Houston to end its two-game skid here.

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